Abstract
The goal of digitalisation in floating wind O&M is to create a condition monitoring and inspection plan that gives unprecendented visibility on the wind farm’s condition and optimises preventive maintenance, thereby lowering OPEX. The digitalised O&M strategy enhances the integrity management approach used to minimise the probability and consequence of unpredicted failure. The selection of digital tools is done in relation to the integrity management plan’s risks assessment. Over the life of the wind farm, the risk-based approach is supported by the data of the monitoring and inspection framework to make more efficient use of maintenance resources.
There are three categories of tools: condition monitoring, inspection technology and digital twins. There is innovation across all categories such as new sensors, inspection vehicles or more broadly the use of artificial intelligence to improve modelling accuracy, data analysis and facilitate human tasks. In this paper, particular attention is paid to digital twins, the newest concept in the context of floating wind O&M. Definitions of the term can vary, but in this White Paper, a digital twin is a model that digitally replicates a physical asset’s condition (structural integrity, performance, met-ocean parameters etc.) in a comprehensive manner and in real time. With these two characteristics, digital twins augment the classic monitoring approach used in offshore industries.
As much as the potential of digitalisation in O&M is already understood by some project developers, classification societies, insurers and financers alike, there are barriers to its proper implementation. These bottlenecks range from technical (low track record of a comprehensive approach, lack of standard rules for systematic model verification and validation at scale) to commercial (unclear cost-benefit, fragmented supply chain, data siloes between OEMs). Just like for any innovation, the first mover risk applies to digitalising floating wind O&M. A call for a comprehensive solution on a commercial-scale project is key to trialing the approach; it would incentivise the supply chain to meet project needs from product offering to the ways data is shared for a holistic digital twin. Until this point, the validation of new modelling approaches on pilot projects continues to be important for building track record.
The requirements for commercial-scale floating wind are different than those of offshore oil & gas or bottom-fixed wind. Realising them implies a few fundamental mindset changes. First, data transparency: data is the basis of a digitalised O&M strategy and stakeholders need to collaborate to build a cost-effective, comprehensive monitoring solution. Second, a focus on advanced condition monitoring over equipment redundancy: compared to oil & gas which focuses on equipment redundancy, improved floating wind asset visibility thanks to digitalisation can help lower safety factors and/or redundancies of the components being monitored. Significant cost savings are expected as a result. This may be the more appropriate path for our industry’s risk profile characterised by multiple units with lower margins and reduced safety or environmental risks.
In this paper, we have built a consolidated temperature check of a currently fragmented segment of the industry. We hope to make more accessible the vision for how digitalisation is transforming conventional approaches to unlock higher efficiencies an ultimately lower our industry’s levelised cost of energy. The floating wind commercial scale projects currently under development can take advantage of this opportune time to properly build digital tools and methods into their design and reap their benefits to the fullest.