Offshore wind energy is that source of renewable energy obtained by utilizing the power of the wind produced on the high seas.where it reaches a higher and more constant speed due to the absence of physical barriers. To fully utilize this resource, megastructures are being developed from the seabed and equipped with the latest technical innovations.
The National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2021-2030 envisaged a capacity of 50 GW of wind energy to be installed in Spain by 2030, taking into account both terrestrial and marine parks.. This figure represented a doubling of the 25.7 GW of wind energy and therefore a significant investment in R&D over this period, especially in the offshore wind.
Basque Alliance for Research and Technology (BRTA)
In this context, the Tekniker technology center is a member of the alliance Basque Alliance for Research and Technology (BRTA)has been participating in the since this year OPTIMAR projectfunded by the CDTI and supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the TRANSMISIONES 2023 program, to contribute to Spain’s energy transition. By designing innovative solutions for offshore wind, The aim of the OPTIMAR project is to guarantee optimal energy production in offshore wind farms and their integration into the electricity grid..
Over the three-year duration of the initiative, new operations and maintenance (O&M) tools will be explored, integrating innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) for more efficient data management and real-time decision-making. , applying the latest communication standards.
This way In Spain, autonomous production and efficient delivery of offshore wind energy will be promotedmeeting environmental standards and regulations under strict levels of cyber security.
Advanced methods for monitoring the degradation of wind turbine structures
The work of the Tekniker team, which will lead the scientific part of the project, will focus on the one hand on to increase knowledge on the behavior of structural materials in marine environments, with special emphasis on corrosion and tribocorrosion processes. The information obtained makes generation possible advanced methods for monitoring the degradation of wind turbine structures. On the other hand, the technology center will research the application of AI technologies that allow to realize robust algorithms for the detection, diagnosis and prediction of structural and mechanical abnormalities of digital twins based on operating and condition data and images, while maintaining the security and privacy of the data used.
Finally, Tekniker will work on the implementation of simulation technologies and the optimization of O&M tasks and strategies of offshore farms and their integration into the network to improve the reliability of the systems, maximize the use of resources and quantify the potential for improvement .. The developments of OPTIMAR, coordinated by the company ISATI Engineering Solutions, will promote Spain’s scientific-technological training in the generation of renewable offshore wind energy, identified as one of the fundamental pillars to achieve the goals of climate neutrality in 2050 set at COP21 recorded. from Paris.
The OPTIMAR project has, in addition to the already mentioned Tekniker and ISATI Engineering Solutions, entities such as HI IBERIA Ingeniería y Proyectos SL, Grupo Técnico RIVI SL, ENEROCEAN SL, IDNEO TECHNOLOGIES, SAU, Atten2 Advanced Monitoring Technologies SL, DataDron SL, Fundació Institut Research Energia de Catalunya and the University of Salamanca.