Page 21 - North American Clean Energy January February 2014

New opportunities, new
challenges

Even with the best of plans and the
best of intentions, construction of
larger wind power projects that are even
further from shore, raises the stakes.

New territory will most certainly bring
on new challenges. he United States is
already facing a potential challenge with

the limited vessels available for ofshore
turbine installation in the country.
But there are technology step-
changes on the horizon, which have the

potential to revolutionize the industry. Offshore verticality Wind Lidar
Hydraulic system
Floating turbine systems, for example,
ofer the potential to harness stronger monitoring
To improve the yaw alignment of pump
ofshore winds in deeper waters. hese he ofshore wind market is an underperforming wind turbine HAWE Hydraulics presents a new

systems are already being tested of developing rapidly, and most ofshore and maximize its energy capture, size to its V60N axial piston pump
Norway, Portugal, Japan, and Maine.
turbines are founded on monopiles, First Wind purchased a Wind Iris series. Its key parameters include
Technical advances are slowly being which are driven into the sealoor Lidar. he decision resulted from a displacement of up to 130 cm3/rev
matched by commercial developments, using a hydraulic hammer. his successful ield trial that used data and peak pressures of up to 450 bar,

as project planners and investors move process can take several hours, so from the nacelle-mounted Lidar to displaying its enormous power. he
to new markets where regulatory verticality is a key requirement. correct yaw error and increase total V60N-130 type is particularly suited
regimes for ofshore wind are untested. Traditionally verticality, or energy production. he Wind Iris for load-sensing systems, working
In these markets, new contractors will inclination, is measured by hand-held collected wind speed and direction at operating pressures of up to 400

be engaged, such as Asian entrants
inclinometers. But manual inclination data ahead of the turbine for 30 bar, supplying hydraulic consumers
to the turbine supply business and measurements don’t always result
days. Analysis showed an average with diferent pressure levels and/
American installation crews.
in an accurate representation of the yaw error of seven degrees. A or variable volume lows. Its ield of
hese trends are exciting, but they inclination of the entire pile.
correction factor was then applied deployment includes construction

also bring new risks that might raise the his has led to the development of to the yaw measurement, and 15 machinery and cranes. he load
specter of the technical hiccups of the Fugro’s newly launched InclinoCam. additional days of measurement sensing system and wide selection
early days of ofshore wind.
he InclinoCam system enables using the Wind Iris revealed that of intelligent controllers turn the
But progress need not be a barrier
continuous, real-time verticality the yaw error had been eliminated. pump into an energy-eicient drive

to investment. he key to securing monitoring without delays, and By eliminating the yaw error, the for hydraulic systems, which aid
inance will be forming project teams without the need for people on deck. annual energy production (AEP) of compliance with such emission
and supply chains, which contain the Based on intelligent, visual object the wind turbine increased by 1.8 regulations as Tier 4 in mobile work
experience of people who have ‘been recognition combined, with vessel percent. Wind Iris is manufactured machines. Taking into account the

there’ and ‘done that.’ Involvement
motion compensation, camera images by Avent Lidar Technology, a
high operating pressures during the
of companies with a track record in and IMU data are synchronized
joint venture between US-based design of the hydraulic system allows
ofshore wind will mitigate construction using Fugro’s StarPort technology to Renewable NRG Systems and a size reduction of all components in
risks by embedding the understanding provide real-time information and France-based Leosphere.
the hydraulic control, to lower their

gained from grappling with ofshore allow for immediate correction of To learn more about Wind Iris, visit weight. his is of interest for crane
engineering challenges to date—such as deviations in verticality.
www.nrgsystems.com/AllProducts/ cantilever arms, which are built for
the ones at North Hoyle.
Fugro | www.fugro.com
Wind%20Iris%20Lidar.aspx
length.

Getting experienced people on board First Wind | www.irstwind.com
HAWE Hydraulics
provides a strong knowledge base from www.hawehydraulics.com
which to respond to new technical and
commercial developments in ofshore

wind construction. It ensures that the
projects of the next decade are fully
informed by the lessons of the past.

Now Together:

Vaisala and 3TIER

Joanna de Montgros (left) is the head of
Providing customers an integrated
Project Engineering, Renewables Advisory,
DNV GL Energy. And, Chris Elkinton suite of renewable energy assessment,
(right) is the ofshore technical lead for
North America, Renewables Advisory, forecasting, asset optimization, and
measurement solutions.
DNV GL Energy.

DNV GL Energy | www.dnvgl.com

www.vaisala.com/3TIER

North American Clean Energy 21