Germany – Northland Power has partnered with Subsea Europe Services on a ground-breaking pilot project that will transform Operations & Maintenance (O&M) programs through autonomous maritime survey and underwater inspection.
The Deutsche Bucht Offshore Wind Farm project, scheduled to start in the summer of 2023, intends to improve the effectiveness, security, and sustainability of offshore wind operations.
Following the successful testing of their Autonomous Surveyor Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) and A.IKANBILIS Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HAUV) in the Netherlands, Subsea Europe Services was chosen. The foundations of the offshore wind farm will be thoroughly surveyed and inspected by the Autonomous Surveyor and A.IKANBILIS this July.
Inspections tools
In order to monitor Inter-Array Cable routes and potential scouring at the foundations, the Autonomous Surveyor USV will use multibeam echosounder surveys, while the A.IKANBILIS HAUV will conduct visual inspections from the water’s surface to the seafloor. These autonomous platforms will run at the wind farm during the test project with a minimum of human intervention, utilizing the Albert Betz Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for launch, recovery, and storage.
A highly automated project workflow will be made possible by the SOV, which will act as the mothership and operations hub for the autonomous survey and inspection activities. This novel strategy greatly minimizes the need for offshore employees and vessels, creating a workplace that is safer, more environmentally friendly, and more productive.
Deutsche Bucht
German Exclusive Economic Zone is home to Northland Power’s wholly owned offshore wind farm, Deutsche Bucht. With a 252 MW capacity, it meets the energy demands of 300,000 people while cutting 700,000 tons of CO2 from Germany’s annual CO2 emissions.
This innovative pilot project marks a significant turning point for the offshore wind sector and demonstrates how autonomous technologies have the ability to transform O&M procedures. The incorporation of autonomous survey and inspection capabilities will support the continuous development and sustainability of offshore wind farms through greater efficiency, decreased environmental impact, and improved data collecting.
