The EOLO group, a research team hailing from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has introduced a groundbreaking approach to scrutinize the enduring mechanical fatigue of floating offshore wind turbines. Spearheaded by researcher Alain Ulazia, this advancement holds the promise of optimizing the operational lifespan of these structures while assessing their feasibility across various locations.
Utilizing wind and wave historical data spanning from 1920 to 2010 from a high-energy site on the west coast of Ireland, Ulazia and his team meticulously analyzed the evolution of maritime conditions. Armed with this data, they devised a mathematical-statistical model capable of gauging the mechanical fatigue potential encountered by floating wind turbines amid these conditions. This pioneering model provides the means to estimate the turbines' serviceable lifespan based on the meteorological profile of a particular site.
“In its study, the EOLO research group developed a method to determine ‘the suitability of installing floating wind farms in a specific location,'” explained Ulazia. This involves evaluating the probability of turbines enduring mechanical fatigue or confronting extreme offshore conditions, especially at high energy locales.
“The biggest question in offshore wind generation is how weather conditions will influence energy production,” remarked Ulazia, underscoring the significance of their research's breadth. Delving deeper than mere energy production, the study zoomed in on the mechanical fatigue aspect, considering the ultimate failure resulting from repetitive shocks and stresses that, individually, might not compromise the material integrity.
“Sea conditions can reduce the useful life of floating turbines,” Ulazia elucidated, emphasizing the economic repercussions of shortened lifespan. “Some parts of the turbine, instead of lasting 20 years, could only last 15 years, which significantly impacts the cost and investment of the project.”
The EOLO group's extensive engagement with meteorology, climate, and environmental projects over the years underpins their expertise in this domain. Ulazia highlighted, “We have carried out numerous studies on the long-term relationship between climate change and the generation of renewable energy, making historical studies and future projections.”
Focusing their study on a high-energy location in Ireland, leveraging historical data from Galway Bay in collaboration with Maynooth University's Ocean Energy Research Centre, the researchers elucidated the evolution of maritime conditions. This data-driven approach facilitated the creation of a model reflecting long-term fatigue trends in wind turbines, with potential applications in future projections.
To validate their method, the researchers conducted simulations to assess the energy output of floating turbines in eight plausible scenarios offshore Galway Bay, while also scrutinizing mechanical fatigue in specific components. Ulazia detailed their approach, stating, “We use a simulator that shows us in seconds the ‘dance' of the turbine due to waves and wind, and we developed a method to implement changes in long-term maritime states and determine the evolution of fatigue.”
While initially applied in Ireland, Ulazia emphasized the universality of their method. “It is universal. We can do the analysis anywhere in the world,” he affirmed, stressing the considerable investment required in the maritime environment for offshore wind energy despite its low turbulence compared to land, posing a notable challenge.
