Thomsen Offshore Wind

A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Offshore Wind Farm Installation
2. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-0-12-409594-6
Verlag: Elsevier Science & Techn.
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 404 Seiten

Offshore Wind is the first-ever roadmap to successful offshore wind installation. It provides a ready reference for wind project managers, teaching them how to deal with complications on-site, as well as for financers, who can utilize the text as an easy guide to asking the pivotal questions of petitioning wind project developers. These developers' planning stages will be improved by the book's expert advice on how to avoid wasting money by scoping out and mitigating potential problems up-front. Wind turbine manufacturers will benefit from insights into design optimization to support cheaper installation and hauling, thereby incurring lower project costs, and helping developers establish a quicker route to profitability. The book sheds light not just on how to solve a particular installation difficulty, but delves into why the problem may best be solved in that way. - Enables all stakeholders to realize cheaper, faster, and safer offshore wind projects - Explains the different approaches to executing on- and offshore projects, highlighting theeconomic impacts of the various financial and operational choices - Provides practical, proven advice on how tough challenges can be overcome,using real-life examples from the author's experiences to illustrate key issues

Kurt E. Thomsen is the Founder and Managing Director of Advanced Offshore Solutions ApS. The company is focused on supplying consultancy services to the offshore wind farm industry exclusively, with the primary focus on transport and logistical solutions, design, build and operation of offshore windfarm installation vessels. Current clients include Credit Suisse, Eon, DONG Energy, MTHøjgaard, Statoil Hydro, Energie Baden Wurttemberg, Gamesa and many other major stakeholders in the offshore wind industry. The services provided by the company include development and implementation of methods, rules and guidelines for offshore wind farm work, setup and execution of the installation process for offshore projects, validation of equipment and auditing of same, contract negotiations and implementation of same to projects as well as development of new installation methods and vessels for the abovementioned companies in order to execute their project portfolio. Prior to establishing Advanced Offshore Solutions in 2006, Mr. Thomsen was Business Development Manager for the company A2SEA A/S, a company originally started by Kurt E. Thomsen himself in 2000. A2SEA A/S, is a privately held company specializing in delivering transport, logistical solutions as well as installation vessels for the offshore wind industry. The basis of the company is a patent for a semi jacking installation vessel, originally designed and patented by Kurt E. Thomsen. Before this, Mr. Thomsen was the owner and founder of Danish Crane consultants, a company specializing in solutions for the heavy lift industry on as well as offshore. He ran this company for 5 years before merging it into A2SEA A/S. Mr. Thomsen started his career in the shipyard of Frederica Denmark and worked for 15 years with docking and lifting assignments for the yard first as a crane operator since as a lifting supervisor. Mr. Thomsen received his Bsc. in architecture and construction from the Via University in Horsens Denmark in 1990. He has a leadership diploma from Århus Business Academy, Bachelors degree in Strategic Management, Lean Master. He is a qualified crane operator, assessor and crane specialist (According to Danish HSE rules it requires specialist knowledge to validate the use of cranes and lifting equipment, this requires diplomas in engineering, nondestructive testing and a minimum requirement of 10 years of relevant experience). Kurt E. Thomsen is based in Århus Denmark.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Thomsen, Kurt

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Front Cover;1
2;Offshore Wind: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Offshore Wind Farm Installation;4
3;Copyright;5
4;Dedication;6
5;Contents;8
6;Acknowledgments;12
7;About the Authors;14
8;Preface;16
8.1;Why Do You Need This Book?;16
8.2;Who Should Read This Book?;17
8.3;How Does the Author Feel about Wind Farms?;17
8.4;What Can You Get Out of This Book?;18
9;Chapter One: What Is an Offshore Wind Farm?;22
9.1;Monopile;24
9.2;Gravity Base;24
9.3;Tripod;25
9.4;Jacket;26
10;Chapter Two: Obtaining Permits for Wind Farms;30
10.1;The United States;30
10.1.1;Offshore Wind Potential;31
10.1.1.1;Permits for the OCS;31
10.1.1.2;Obtaining Permits for State Waters;32
10.1.1.3;Obtaining Permits for the Great Lakes;32
10.1.2;Offshore Planning;32
10.1.2.1;Federal Planning;32
10.1.2.2;State Planning;33
10.1.3;Requests for Proposals;34
10.1.4;Federal Permitting;35
10.1.4.1;The Permitting Process;36
10.1.5;State, Regional, and Local Permitting;37
10.1.6;Stakeholder Outreach;37
10.2;The United Kingdom;38
10.2.1;Offshore Wind Potential;38
10.2.2;Offshore Planning;38
10.2.3;Offshore Leasing;40
10.2.4;Permitting and Consenting;40
10.2.5;Additional Industry Support;41
10.3;Germany;41
10.3.1;Importance of Wind Energy for Germanys Electicity Production;42
10.3.1.1;Environmentally Friendly Electricity;42
10.3.1.2;Overview of the Installed Offshore Wind Projects in Germany;43
10.3.2;Types of Permissions;43
10.3.2.1;Offshore Wind Projects within 12-NM Zone;43
10.3.2.2;Offshore Wind Projects within the Exclusive Economic Zone;44
10.3.3;Spatial Offshore Grid Plan;44
10.3.4;Overview of the Permitting Process;45
10.3.5;Permission within the Exclusive Economic Zone;45
10.3.5.1;Scope of Application;46
10.3.5.2;Maximum Number of Facilities;46
10.3.5.3;Concentration of Approval Authorities at BSH;46
10.3.5.4;Material Requirements of a Planning Approval;47
10.3.5.5;Environmental Impact Assessment;47
10.3.5.6;Formal Requirements;48
10.3.5.7;Decision on Planning Approval/Planning Consent;48
10.3.5.8;Discretion of BSH;48
10.3.5.9;Permit to Start Building;49
10.3.5.10;Approval Period;49
10.3.5.11;Decommissioning of Offshore Wind Farms;49
10.3.6;Other Significant Offshore Wind Markets;49
11;Chapter Three: Project Planning;52
11.1;Project Strategy Outline;52
11.1.1;Organization;52
11.1.1.1;Metocean Conditions;53
11.1.1.2;Seabed Conditions;53
11.1.1.3;The Turbine;54
11.1.2;Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance with Permitting;54
11.2;The Project Execution Plan;57
11.3;Start of Production;61
11.3.1;The Logistics Setup;63
11.3.1.1;Form of the Contract;63
11.3.1.2;Project Options;64
11.3.1.3;Do It Yourself;65
11.3.1.4;EPIC Contracting;65
11.4;Tender and Contract Strategy;67
11.5;QA and QC Requirements;69
11.6;Human Resources for Installations;70
12;Chapter Four: The Basic Organization;76
12.1;Sales;77
12.1.1;Identify Projects;77
12.1.2;Tender Projects;77
12.1.3;Prepare Contracts;78
12.1.4;Negotiate Terms;78
12.1.5;Hire Subsuppliers;79
12.1.6;Prepare Documentation for Project Planning and Execution;79
12.1.7;Specify All Products and Services;79
12.1.8;Specify Interfaces;79
12.2;Planning;80
12.2.1;Design Equipment for Project;80
12.2.2;Plan the Process of Project;81
12.2.3;Design and Plan Facilities and Specify Equipment;81
12.2.4;Specify Certification and Other Means of Documentation;81
12.2.5;Perform Due Diligence on Methods Prior to Start;81
12.3;QA and HSE;82
12.3.1;Define Interfaces and Requirements;83
12.3.2;Compliance of Project;83
12.3.3;Risk Assessment;85
12.3.4;Hazard Identification;85
12.3.5;Working Procedures;85
12.3.6;Supplier Assessments;86
12.3.7;Training of Personnel;86
12.4;Project Management;87
12.4.1;Project Due Diligence;87
12.4.2;Contract Subsuppliers;88
12.4.3;Build and/or Buy and Implement All Equipment and Services;88
12.4.4;Set Up and Manage Site;89
12.4.5;Load Out and Installation of Turbines;90
12.4.6;Documentation of All Work;90
12.4.7;Coordinate QA/HSE Work;91
12.5;Service Department;91
12.6;Technical Management;92
13;Chapter Five: Project Preparation;96
13.1;Define Project Parameters;96
13.1.1;Project Plan and Strategy;97
13.2;Contracting Products and Services;100
13.3;Developing Project HSE Plans and Procedures;101
13.4;Developing QA/QC Plans and Procedures;102
13.5;Determining Methods and Required Equipment;103
13.6;Defining the BOP;103
13.7;Creating the Final Project Time Schedule;105
13.7.1;The Choice of Equipment;106
13.7.2;The Turbine Type;106
13.7.2.1;Installation Time;106
13.7.2.2;Necessary Weather Window;106
13.7.2.3;Onsite Metocean Conditions;106
13.7.2.4;Distance and Navigation Time;107
13.7.3;Auditing the Contract Suppliers;107
13.8;Implementing Plans and Procedures for Suppliers and Contractors;109
13.9;Preparing On- and Offshore Construction Sites;109
13.9.1;Security;110
13.9.2;Ground Preparation;111
13.9.3;Piers and Waterfronts;111
13.9.4;The Seabed in the Port;112
14;Chapter Six: Project Execution;116
14.1;Auditing;116
14.1.1;Necessary Documentation;116
14.1.1.1;Certificates;116
14.1.1.2;Operation Manual;117
14.1.1.3;Project-Specific Method Statement;117
14.1.1.4;Health, Safety, and Environmental Plan;118
14.1.1.5;Working Instructions;118
14.1.1.6;General Condition Surveys;118
14.1.1.7;Fuel and Lube Gauging;119
14.1.1.8;Special Equipment;119
14.2;Project Startup Sequence;119
14.2.1;Shore-Based Preparations and Progress;120
14.2.2;Offshore Site Preparations and Progress;121
14.2.2.1;Seabed Scan;122
14.2.2.2;Cone Penetration Test;122
14.2.2.3;Core Drillings;122
14.3;Monitoring the Activities;123
14.4;Project Management Setup;124
14.4.1;What is Project Management?;124
14.4.2;How Does the PM Department Ideally Look?;128
14.4.3;Claims Management;131
15;Chapter Seven: Interface Management;140
15.1;The Main Interfaces and Accompanying Responsibilities;140
15.2;Contracting to an EPC Contractor;146
15.2.1;Contracting Heavy Lift Vessels;147
15.2.1.1;Heavy Lift Crane Vessel Contracting;147
15.2.1.1.1;Why is this an Oligopoly?;148
15.2.1.1.2;With What Contracting Structure is a Buyer Usually Presented?;148
15.2.1.2;Executing Contracts in this Category;151
15.2.2;DIY or Multicontracting;152
15.3;The Economy;152
15.4;Interfaces and Handover Documents;153
16;Chapter Eight: Health, Safety, and Environmental Management;170
16.1;Why HSE Management is Important;170
16.1.1;The Most Important Single Activity in a Project;171
16.1.2;The HSE Organization;171
16.2;The HSE Documentation Structure;172
16.2.1;Monitoring and Reporting;174
16.2.2;Auditing and Correcting Actions and Methods;175
16.2.2.1;Good Practice, Bad Practice, or Management Statement?;176
16.2.2.2;Management Statements;178
16.3;The HSE and National Authorities;180
17;Chapter Nine: Work Vessel Coordination;184
17.1;Organization Setup and Functions;184
17.1.1;VTTC Rules and Regulations;185
17.2;The Operations Center and the Work Carried Out;186
17.2.1;Traffic Coordination;186
17.2.2;Traffic Control;187
17.2.2.1;Guard Vessel;188
17.3;Organization of Surveillance;188
18;Chapter Ten: Logistics Solutions;192
19;Chapter Eleven: Commonly Used Installation Methods;198
19.1;Foundations;198
19.1.1;Gravity-Based Foundations;198
19.1.1.1;Installing Gravity-Based Foundations;199
19.1.2;Monopile Foundations;199
19.1.3;Jacket Foundations;203
19.1.3.1;Installing Jacket Foundations;205
19.2;Tripod Foundations;205
19.3;Installing Foundations;206
19.3.1;Transport for Foundation Installation;208
19.3.2;Securing Installed Foundations;210
19.4;Important Things to Consider;211
19.4.1;Harbor;211
19.4.2;Loading;211
19.4.3;Transport;211
19.4.4;During and After Departure;212
19.4.4.1;Installation Offshore;212
19.4.4.2;Positioning the Vessel and Wave and Current Conditions;213
19.4.4.3;Pros and Cons of the Different Methods;213
20;Chapter Twelve: Vessels and Transport to Offshore Installations;224
20.1;Types of Vessels;224
20.1.1;Self-Propelled Jack-up Vessels;225
20.1.2;Tug-Assisted and Self-Positioning Jack-Up Barges;225
20.1.3;Floating Equipment;226
20.2;Tradeoffs When Choosing a Particular Vessel;227
20.2.1;Example Vessel;228
20.3;Assessing Equipment;230
20.3.1;Basic Information;231
20.3.1.1;Type of Ship;231
20.3.1.2;Options;233
20.3.1.3;Ship Owner: Contract Partner, Vessel Operator;233
20.3.1.4;Use;233
20.3.1.5;Length Overall: Meters in Length;234
20.3.1.6;Beam: Width of the Vessel;234
20.3.1.7;Height;234
20.3.1.8;Maximum Draft;234
20.3.2;Operations and Bookings;235
20.3.2.1;Charter Costs;235
20.3.2.2;Minimum Charter Period;236
20.3.2.3;Mobilization and Demobilization Costs;236
20.3.3;Loading Capacity;237
20.3.3.1;Maximum Payload;237
20.3.3.2;Maximum Deck Area;238
20.3.3.3;Deck Area Shape and Layout;239
20.3.4;Preassembly;239
20.3.5;Open and Closed Deck Availability;240
20.3.6;The Lifting (Jack-Up) System;241
20.3.6.1;System or Type;241
20.3.6.2;Lifting Speed;241
20.3.6.3;Carrying Capacity;242
20.3.6.4;Number of Legs;243
20.3.6.5;Spudcan;243
20.3.6.6;Maximum Penetration Depth;244
20.3.7;Propulsion and Dynamic Positioning Systems;244
20.3.7.1;Propulsion System;244
20.3.7.2;Specifications;245
20.3.7.3;Performance;245
20.3.7.4;Service Speed;245
20.3.8;Crane Types;246
20.3.8.1;Maximum Lifting Capacity;246
20.3.8.2;Lifting Radius;246
20.3.8.3;Payload;247
20.3.8.4;Maximum Wind Velocity;247
20.3.9;Transit Mode;248
20.3.9.1;Maximum Wave Peak Period;248
20.3.9.2;Needed Visibility;248
20.3.9.3;Transit Velocity;249
20.3.9.4;G-forces Transmitted to Payload;249
20.3.10;Jacking Up and Jacking Down;250
20.3.10.1;Significant Wave Height;250
20.3.10.2;Maximum Wave Peak Period;250
20.3.10.3;Wind Velocity;251
20.3.10.4;Current Velocity;251
20.3.10.5;Needed Visibility;252
20.3.10.6;Lifting (Jacking) Speed;252
20.3.10.7;Maximum Water Depth;252
20.3.10.8;Type of Seabed;253
20.3.11;Waiting on Weather;253
20.3.12;People Transfer and Accommodations;254
20.3.12.1;Vessel Access to Wind Turbines;254
20.3.12.2;Installation Speed;254
20.3.12.3;Installation Envelope Per Year;255
20.4;Basic Information about Ports;255
20.4.1;Characteristics of the Ideal Port;256
20.4.1.1;Project Ports and How They Perform;256
20.4.1.2;Transport to and from the Port;256
20.4.1.2.1;A Port's Impact on the Project;257
20.4.1.3;Size and Layout of the Ideal Hub;257
20.4.1.4;Combination of Vessel and Port;258
20.4.2;Summary;259
21;Chapter Thirteen: Operation and Maintenance;264
21.1;Introduction;264
21.1.1;The Goal of the O&M Phase;266
21.2;Looking Back: What Have We Learned?;266
21.2.1;Developing Through Onshore;266
21.2.1.1;Why has the Change Been Required?;268
21.2.1.2;Asset Integrity Management;270
21.3;Moving to Offshore;271
21.3.1;Operations and Maintenance: Access Holds the Key;273
21.3.1.1;Exceedance and Persistence;273
21.3.1.2;Significant Wave Height;274
21.3.2;Accessing Wind Turbines: The Wind Turbine Structure;275
21.3.2.1;Positioning the Foundation Access System;276
21.3.3;Accessing Wind Turbine: Crew Transfer Vessels;277
21.3.3.1;15-18m Aluminum or Fiberglass Catamaran CTV;277
21.3.3.2;20-30m Steel Monohull Vessels;278
21.3.3.3;18-21m Catamaran CTV with Light Cargo Capability;278
21.3.3.4;16-20m SWATH Vessel;280
21.3.3.5;21-24m Catamaran CTV with Light Cargo Capability and Improved Performance;280
21.3.3.6;Other Vessels;281
21.3.4;Vessel Access Enhancers;283
21.3.4.1;BMT/Houlder Turbine Access System;283
21.3.5;OSBIT MaXccess System;283
21.3.6;Accessing Wind Turbine: Helicopters;284
21.3.7;Completing the Picture: Crane Vessels/Jack-up Vessel;288
21.4;Operations and Maintenance: The Support Facility;291
21.4.1;The Maintenance Facility;291
21.4.2;Management Systems;293
21.4.2.1;Marine Management and Supervision;293
21.4.3;Works Management Systems;293
21.5;Balance of Plant and Subsea Requirements;294
21.5.1;Introduction;294
21.5.2;Understanding Subsea Risk;295
21.5.2.1;Foundations: Monopile and Jacket Structure;295
21.5.2.2;Foundation: Transition Piece;295
21.5.2.3;Foundation: J Tubes;296
21.5.2.4;Subsea Cables;296
21.5.2.5;Onshore Shore Cables;296
21.5.2.6;Subsea Cable Protection;296
21.5.2.7;Cathodic Protection;296
21.5.3;Responding to Subsea Risks;297
21.5.3.1;Cable Depth of Burial Inspection;297
21.5.3.2;General Visual Inspection or Close Visual Inspection;297
21.5.3.3;Flooded Member Detection;297
21.5.3.4;Cathodic Protection Measurement Inspection;297
21.5.3.5;Multi-Beam Survey;298
21.5.3.6;Marine Growth Measurement Survey;298
21.5.3.7;Inspection and Survey Vessels and Costs;298
21.5.4;Delivering the Solution to Subsea Risks;298
21.5.4.1;The Written Scheme of Inspection;299
21.6;Operations and Maintenance: Resources;300
21.7;Operations and Maintenance: The Future;300
21.7.1;Accommodation Platforms;302
21.7.2;Mothership Solutions;302
21.7.2.1;Compensated Gangways;303
21.7.2.2;Intra Field Transfer Vessels;304
22;Chapter Fourteen: Project Criteria;306
22.1;Offshore Access Systems;306
22.2;Waves;308
22.3;Wind;310
22.4;Currents;310
23;Chapter Fifteen: Transporting Wind Turbines;314
23.1;Types of Transport Vessels;315
23.1.1;Monohull Vessels;317
23.1.2;Catamarans;317
23.1.3;SWATH Vessels;317
23.1.4;Liftboats;318
23.2;Transfer Systems;324
23.2.1;Available Systems;324
23.2.1.1;Offshore Access System;326
23.2.1.2;The Ampelmann;327
24;Chapter Sixteen: Deployment Strategies;332
24.1;Shared Access to Offshore Equipment;333
24.1.1;Using Helicopters;334
24.1.2;Additional Safety;336
24.1.3;Cost Model;336
24.2;Future Trends in the Service Vessel Industry;336
24.3;Crew Vessel Selection Criteria;337
24.4;Basic Information Relating to Crew Vessels;340
24.4.1;Type of Offshore Access System;340
24.4.1.1;OAS Owner;340
24.4.1.2;Country;340
24.4.1.3;Trading Distance;341
24.4.1.4;Fuel Consumption;341
24.4.1.5;Use;341
24.4.2;General Parameters;342
24.4.2.1;Beam or Width;342
24.4.2.2;Length;342
24.4.2.3;Transit Speed;342
24.4.2.4;Wind Speed (Limit);343
24.4.2.5;Significant Wave Height;344
24.4.2.6;Weather Limits;344
24.4.2.7;Anchoring or Mooring System;344
24.4.2.8;Loading Capacity;345
24.4.2.9;Operations/Bookings;345
24.4.2.10;Waiting on Weather;346
24.4.2.11;Personnel Transfer and Accommodations Offshore;346
25;Chapter Seventeen: Repairing Offshore Wind Farms;348
25.1;How Does It Work?;349
26;Chapter Eighteen: Environmental and Other Issues;352
26.1;Protecting the Environment;352
26.2;Waste Management;354
26.3;Pollution Issues;356
26.4;The Working Environment;360
26.5;Piling Noise;360
26.6;Cofferdams;364
26.6.1;Proposed Method of Installing a Cofferdam Foundation;367
26.6.2;Installing Monopiles Using a Cofferdam;368
26.6.3;Installing Anchor Piles Using a Cofferdam;370
27;Conclusions About O&M Transport Systems;374
27.1;Vessels;374
27.2;Transfer Systems;375
27.3;Recommendations;376
28;Decommissioning of Wind Turbines;380
28.1;Permitting Phase Requirements;380
28.2;Arguments Often Presented;380
28.3;The Oil and Gas Perspective;383
28.4;Conclusion;384
29;Final Thoughts;386
30;Index;388

Leseproben

Preface

Why Do You Need This Book?

This book is the result of 14 years of learning by doing. Fourteen years ago, no one had installed wind farms offshore commercially. Test sites that had been or were installed—in Denmark predominantly—consisted of turbines up to 600 kW and were limited in number. In 2001, the first semicommercial wind farm consisting of 20 Bonus (now Siemens) 2.0-MW turbines was installed at the port entrance of Copenhagen on a sandbank known as Middelgrunden. Those turbines were the result of a private initiative among the residents of Copenhagen called “Middelgrundens Vindmøllelaug.” The initiative was backed by the utility “Københavns Energi A/S,” which signed the PPA (power purchase agreement) for the 20 turbines to supply power. This made construction of the wind farm possible and installation was started in 2000.

When the project was planned and executed, there were no set standards for offshore work, no programming of activities, and no legal framework that could regulate the activities concerning health, safety, and environmental (HSE) and the permitting of the project. All this was being developed as we moved forward. I wrote this book to record the findings, experiences, and methods that have proven solid enough to endure through the past 10 years of offshore construction and have formed the basis of lawmaking, setting of best practice standards, and HSE regulations for working in the wind farm industry offshore.

What is here represents a work in progress, this means that the data, the statements, and the findings are the best information I can give the reader at this point in time. Therefore, the book will be updated over the coming years, and new information and more authors will contribute data that can be of use in the process of installing an offshore wind farm. The intention is to create a robust basis for understanding the offshore wind farm industry. It is, however, also a book with some anecdotes from my years in the industry, and I hope it provides the reader with some food for thought. It is my belief that this is a more interesting way to learn and to remember data that can sometimes be boring. By giving them life, they will stay in one’s memory longer.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is addressed to everyone involved in, or soon to be involved in, the offshore wind farm industry, whether a consultant, financier, engineer, or technician. It is designed to answer common questions that will be asked at the start, in the middle, and toward the end of a wind farm installation project.

The recorded experiences from the last 10 years will help point the professional in the right direction. It will also give the financing society a chance to ask the technical questions that are necessary to determine whether project planning and execution sound sensible and have been adequately thought through. The engineer will be able to plan without walking into the biggest and most obvious obstacles that are common in the process of installing an offshore wind farm.

The HSE professional will be able to figure out how to set up and execute the planning and monitoring of the processes from a safety point of view. The financier will be able to ask some more in-depth questions and certainly understand more of the process, the risks involved, and why the world looks different outside an office.

The intent is not to present “be all and end all” documentation but rather to provide a statement that the reader can use as a starting point for an offshore wind farm career. There is a huge need for more in-depth knowledge and information before the many statistics, hints, and fragments of advice can be of use. This is why one should start here and work through the knowledge base that is contained everywhere in the industry but, unfortunately, is scattered around the globe. The reader needs to locate and sort through the information in order to be able to work professionally. After reading this book, one should feel confident in one’s knowledge about wind farms.

How Does the Author Feel about Wind Farms?

It is important for the reader to understand the author’s context. Admittedly I am biased toward some ways of executing the offshore installation of foundations and turbines. Therefore, the recommendations and reservations in this book reflect my personal opinions. The recommendations and opinions are, of course, based on my years of experience in the industry.

It would be wrong, however, if I said that the methods and processes described here are the only valid ways of installing an offshore wind farm. So, whenever a method or process is described, I make an effort to document the shortcomings of all of the alternatives, as well as list other possible ways of carrying out the work. It is then up to the reader to decide which viewpoint to take toward the documentation and statements made in this book.

Let me emphasize, though, that the methods and processes described do work. Other solutions may work, too, and I make a sincere effort to state in unbiased terms the pros and cons of proposed alternatives. The litmus test that I will always apply to determine the viability of an alternative will be whether or not it is cost effective. I believe we can engineer almost anything. Many alternative methods proposed in the offshore wind farm industry are technically possible and exist in other industries—mainly offshore oil and gas. But the cost of these technologies and methods may prohibit them from being used in the offshore wind farm industry. I make a point of demonstrating this whenever I list the alternatives.

The reader should always keep an open mind about what is stated in this book. It is essential to understand that the focus is on the object—installing an offshore wind farm—but the point of view may be different depending on who one talks to in real life. Therefore, the statements and recommendations should serve only as guidelines—things that have been done before, methods that may change—and all of this is intended to prepare the reader for further study, real work, and a fact-based opinion about this industry.

What Can You Get Out of This Book?

After finishing this book, it is my hope that the reader will have an in-depth understanding of the offshore wind farm industry. One should be able to make major decisions to map out the main planning and execution route for an offshore wind farm project that one is working to complete.

The reader should know the best choices to make and the consequences they will involve. This is important because every time a component in the offshore environment is changed, repercussions could well reach beyond the single component being altered.

As such, the offshore environment can pose challenges that are different from the onshore environment. Why is this so? A good example is changing the size of the foundation due to poor ground conditions. Onshore you would ask the geotechnical engineer how much additional material to remove in order to get to a firm, stable ground. Once this is established, you can estimate how much extra concrete to pour in order to create the proper foundation for the turbine. This is fairly straightforward engineering and not really that complicated. It involves calculating amounts, an excavator, and additional time.

For the offshore wind farm, it is an entirely different beast. The first thing to ask for is an additional set of core drillings to establish how much the seabed varies and to what depth. This may very well change the entire foundation system to be used. As an example, the Baltic 2 project had such challenging ground conditions that it was necessary to install two entirely different types of foundations: monopiles and jackets. This was the result of the poor seabed conditions in the area. There is more to it however.

If the foundation or ground is different from the baseline set of characteristics, the entire iterative process of calculating the turbine–foundation interaction is different, and thereby the individual foundations need to be different. Furthermore, if the foundation is different—say, a jacket and a monopile—in the same wind farm offshore, it requires two sets of seafastening on the installation vessels, two types of hammers to drive piles, and so on. There are far-reaching consequences when greatly varying seabed conditions offshore are found compared to onshore.

This is why it is important to read and understand all of the factors of the various disciplines of an offshore wind farm project. The smallest component will change the larger system if it is important enough.

After reading this book, the reader should be able to make detailed plans and to understand and account for the many variables that will impact the project from start to finish. What is here is also intended to give the reader the opportunity to ask questions. The more that’s read, the more thoroughly one will be able to understand the industry, providing a continuously improving basis for forming one’s own opinion. That is the goal of the book: to inform and to facilitate discussion.

This is not a recipe book in which the reader can look up any question and easily find an answer; it is meant to provide readers with opportunities to start their own thinking process and to develop methods and answers. This is the place to look for hints, advice, stories, and a possible road map to follow to establish the most direct route to the successful installation of an offshore wind farm. I therefore suggest...