ISSUE 01 • 2013 DNV GL www.gl-group.com ee nergy.nerg e fficiency. e ngineering. ırenewablesze The Next Generation offshore uk The Missing Link simulation Virtual Experience certification Managing Risks CERTIFICATION OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES NEW GUIDELINE | EDITION 2012 The updated guideline follows the main developments in the offshore wind industry. It contains latest testing conditions, safety systems and quality requirements. Order your copy now at www.gl-group.com/glrenewables Photo: Halberg | Dreamstime.com www.gl-group.com/glrenewables editorial To Our Readers Our young, dynamic industry is looking ahead to a bright future – provided that we succeed in maintaining public and government support. To do so we must make wind power more af- fordable. In this issue of energize renewables you will find a number of suggestions that could cut the cost of wind energy significantly. For example, DNV GL engineers can design and tune algorithms for the onboard control- lers of offshore wind turbines to optimise energy capture while minimising loading and fa- tigue. This will save plenty of money (page 30). Advanced computer-based modelling using FEA simulation cuts costs by supporting equipment design, installation, availability and compliance. There is no better way to navigate the intricacies of offshore structural engineering (page 16). But the industry must also learn to cooperate and share know-how to bring down the costs of building wind farms (page 12). RV Ahilan These and many other promising new technologies and perspectives are what renewable energy experts discussed at the EWEA Offshore conference in Frankfurt, Germany. In particular, innova- tive, diversified financing concepts for offshore wind projects are opening new doors. Find out more on page 24. While hesitant governments spread a sense of uncertainty, the UK’s ambitious wind energy programme demonstrates how a young industry can benefit from vigorous govern- ment support. Read in “The Missing Link” (page 10) what needs to be done to stay the course. Offshore wind has made great progress in Europe over the past ten years. In its report “10 Years: 10 Lessons”, GL Garrad Hassan, now part of the recently merged DNV GL Group, looks back at ten years of offshore wind and lessons learned. Read our summary on page 8. In spite of the bumpy start of the German “energy turnaround”, the offshore wind energy market is developing at a breathtaking speed. The industry’s standards must keep pace with technology and practice. GL Renewables Certification recently published its new “Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines”. Minimising risks and earning the trust of investors, insurers, operators and authorities are the main purposes of our certification work (page 30). DNV and GL have now become a single company, DNV GL. With our resources combined, we look forward to a great future as a new, stronger force serving our customers in the renewables sector. The renewable energy story continues to be an exciting one. I hope you enjoy this edition of energize renewables! Yours sincerely, RV Ahilan President GL Garrad Hassan, Director, Renewables Advisory, DNV GL 01/2013 3 contents 01/2013 42 44 SYNERGY MEERWIND ENVIRONMENT Driving down Independent cer- Credibility through costs by industry- tification for safe- a verified carbon wide collaboration ty and reliability footprint report 14 28 30 22 38 08 10 MAINTENANCE STRUCTURES DOCKING INTERVIEW REVIEW UK OFFSHORE Service battle Ensuring integrity A new logistics Mike Wöbbeking Viable industry: Leading position: for the US while minimising concept for about guideline a decade of the key factors market costs – a challenge installations developments offshore wind for success 4 energıze renewables 12 profileinbrief In Brief: DNVGL – Energy IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY DNV GL delivers world-renowned testing and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy efficiency. Our expertise spans onshore and offshore wind power, solar, conventional generation, transmission and distribution, smart grids, and sustainable energy use, as well as energy markets and regulations. Our 3,000 energy experts support customers around the globe in delivering a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply. GL Garrad Hassan and GL Renewables Certification are part of DNV GL. GL GARRAD HASSAN, one of the world’s largest renewable energy con- sultancies with a staff of 1,000 at 44 locations in 26 countries, offers a unique level of service expertise across the lifecycle of onshore and offshore wind, marine renewables, and solar energy projects. Addressing all technical aspects of renewable energy applications, GL Garrad Hassan serves manufacturers, operators, investors, project developers, authori- ties, and the supply industry, providing engineering, optimisation, measurement and inspection services and software products. GL RENEWABLES CERTIFICATION is a leading certification body primarily focused on the certification of wind farms, wind turbines and their components as well as marine renewable energy. At the forefront of know-how in renewables technology, it is abreast of all the necessary stan dards and requirements and takes a harmonised approach in ensuring that these are met. Manufacturers, banks and insurers around the world rely on the state-of-the-art service provided by 34 GL Renewables Certification. STABILITY ABOUT DNV GL: On 12 September 2013, DNV and GL merged to form A new tower DNV GL. Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the misalignment detection service environment, DNV GL enables organisations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil and gas, and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of 16 24 industries. With our origins stretching back to 1864, our reach today is global. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 SIMULATIONS FINANCE professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world Computer-based Financial structures: safer, smarter and greener. modelling for more diverse and turbine design international 01/2013 5 6 energıze renewables future trends Whether it is about feeding wind power into the grid, developing intelligent on- shore and offshore wind farm concepts or introducing innovative measurement and testing systems – GL Garrad Hassan provides solutions for tomorrow’s wind energy technology. Photo: inakiantonana | iStockphoto 01/2013 7 future trends experience Horns Rev. The Danish wind farm has demonstrated the industry’s ability to learn. A Decade of Offshore Wind – An Industry Grew up Following some early setbacks, offshore wind power has acquired the experience and track record it needs to stand its ground. Policy uncertainties remain In the autumn and winter of 2003, the land- formance. In the ten eventful years since its construction mark Horns Rev offshore wind farm in Denmark we’ve discovered just how misplaced assumptions were was in trouble. Serial defects in important tur- that offshore wind could be tackled in the same way as bine components came to light which threatened the viabili- onshore wind or offshore oil and gas. Offshore wind is off- ty of the project and, by inference, the future of the offshore shore wind and there is nothing else quite like it. wind industry. If the owner and turbine manufacturer hadn’t recognised the extent of the problems early and taken radi- The Cost Challenge cal remedial action, offshore wind might have been over be- We have learned the true value of marine spatial planning fore it really began. But since its eventual completion the in smoothing out the development process and preventing following summer, the 160-megawatt wind farm has per- expensive delays. Financing billions of dollars worth of cut- formed brilliantly and set the bench- ting-edge wind farm engineering requires an entirely new ABSTRACT mark for all subsequent projects. approach and, slowly but surely, the innovation needed to The offshore wind industry has The Horns Rev story can be ensure the future of offshore wind is happening. Govern- learned from early mistakes and thought of as a metaphor for the ments looked on with dismay as costs rose inexorably when demonstrated its viability broader industry: painful early ex- conventional theory held that they should be doing exactly Politicians must support offshore wind more vigorously to reduce periences giving way to better un- the opposite. But there are now clear signs that we are over its costs and stabilise the market derstanding and improved per- the hump and costs are starting to come down. Photo: DONG Energy/MEDVIND/Bent Sørensen 8 energıze renewables There is also now a much better understanding of the industrial goals and hurt supply chain players, especially unique demands of the technology. As new ways have those who invest boldly in the sector to gain “first mover” been found to manage contracting arrangements, breath- advantage. Independent developers, whose business mod- taking advances have been made in our understanding of el is built on a steady flow of new projects, are hurt more how to design a fully integrated offshore wind power sta- than utilities which have more diverse interests. The overall tion. “Construction risk” is no longer a term which strikes effect is a gradual disillusionment, especially among the terror in the hearts of financiers. From