Researchers at the University of Limerick (UL) have made significant strides in the field of offshore wind farm maintenance with the development of a groundbreaking robotic solution for inspecting floating wind turbines.
This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize how the industry approaches inspections and repairs, enhancing efficiency and safety while reducing operational costs.
Successful Testing at WindFloat Atlantic
UL’s cutting-edge remote-operated vehicle (ROV) underwent successful testing at WindFloat Atlantic, the world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm.
This real-world trial provided valuable data and insights that will prove instrumental in addressing the unique challenges associated with maintaining floating wind turbines.
The Need for Automated Inspection Solutions
Routine inspections and maintenance are crucial for the optimal functioning of offshore wind farms, regardless of whether they are bottom-fixed or floating.
Traditionally, these tasks have relied heavily on human intervention, which can be costly and pose safety risks. As the offshore wind industry continues to grow, there’s a growing emphasis on developing automated solutions to improve reliability and reduce operational expenses.
Leveraging a Fleet of Robotic Technologies
The UL team deployed a diverse fleet of field robots, including subsea ROVs and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to survey the WindFloat Atlantic site off the coast of Portugal.
This comprehensive approach allowed them to test their technology in a fully operational environment and gather critical data in real-time.
High-Resolution 3D Models and Open Access Data
One of the key outcomes of the survey was the generation of high-resolution, geo-referenced 3D models of both above-water and underwater structures.
These datasets will be made available through open-access articles and proceedings, benefiting the public, academia, and government entities alike.
The Future of Offshore Wind in Ireland
Professor Daniel Toal, Co-Director of UL’s Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS), highlighted the significance of this research in the context of Ireland’s ambitious offshore wind strategy.
The country aims to achieve 37 GW of offshore renewable energy capacity by 2050, including 6 GW from floating wind farms. Professor Toal emphasized that developing efficient and cost-effective maintenance capabilities is essential to reaching this target.
Collaboration and Funding
The testing was conducted as part of the ATLANTIS project, which focuses on marine technology solutions for offshore wind inspections.
The project received funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Robots for Wind Farm project. Ocean Winds, the majority owner and operator of WindFloat Atlantic, played a crucial role as a testing partner, demonstrating their commitment to fostering innovation in the sector.
Overcoming Technical Challenges
Inspecting floating turbines presents unique challenges due to their movement. However, the UL team successfully mitigated this issue by utilizing an adaptive control system for their ROV and implementing custom machine vision algorithms for image post-processing.
A New Era of Robotic Wind Farm Maintenance
Dr. Phillipe Santos, Chief CRIS Scientist for the WindFloat Atlantic trials, expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “CRIS has been developing exceptional robotic capabilities that can transform how we approach offshore wind farm inspections.” He further emphasized their commitment to continuous innovation and the development of robotic technologies that prioritize safety, efficiency, and cost reduction.
A Collaborative Effort
José Pinheiro, Ocean Winds Country Manager for South Europe and Project Director for WindFloat Atlantic, praised the collaboration with UL, stating, “At Ocean Winds, we are thrilled to support University of Limerick’s use of our operating project to test their remote-operated vehicle. These initiatives are essential for advancing the floating offshore wind sector to commercial scale.”