A new European research initiative, WindSCORE, has been launched to develop a 360-degree evaluation system for offshore wind projects, aiming to support investment and policy decisions across the sector over the next three years.
Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (Fraunhofer IWES), which is coordinating the project, said WindSCORE will deliver a scientifically based toolbox that assesses offshore wind projects against economic, technical, sustainability and social criteria.
The project brings together partners including Fondation Open-C, SINTEF, Statnett, TÜV SÜD, Bio-Littoral and Equinor, with co-funding provided by national agencies in Germany, France and Norway under the Clean Energy Transition Partnership framework, Fraunhofer IWES said.
WindSCORE is intended to provide a holistic assessment method that can be used throughout the project lifecycle, from tender design and bidding through to construction and operation. The framework will incorporate sustainability factors, technical developments such as floating wind, grid and system integration, and operations and maintenance efficiency, alongside social impacts including regional value creation.
Fraunhofer IWES said it will lead work on site analysis, cost modelling and the evaluation of technical concepts.
“The development of the offshore wind industry is a central pillar of the energy transition,” said Marcel Wiggert, who is responsible for project cooperation at Fraunhofer IWES. “To ensure long-term social, political, and economic acceptance and minimize risks in the value chain, the WindSCORE project is developing a transparent, comprehensible 360° KPI-based evaluation system.”
Project partners said the initiative responds to growing complexity in offshore wind development as projects increase in scale and move into deeper waters.
“To make sound decisions about offshore wind development, it is essential that both industry and public authorities have access to tools capable of untangling the complexity of offshore wind and providing the most holistic picture possible of the opportunities and challenges for nature and society,” said Gard Hopsdal Hansen, centre director for FME NorthWind at Norway’s SINTEF.
Fondation Open-C said it would contribute socio-economic expertise to the project. “In doing so, we will leverage our socio-economic expertise acquired through our work on the French Marine Energy Observatory to refine robust evaluation criteria and support the development of future projects across Europe,” said executive director Stéven Curet.
WindSCORE will also develop an ecological indicator through Bio-Littoral, while Statnett and Equinor will provide operational insights from grid and project development perspectives. TÜV SÜD said the work could help inform future standards.
“Investing in research is essential to strengthen sustainability and develop international standards that ensure offshore wind continues to grow as a reliable and responsible source of energy,” said Karlheinz Russ, senior vice president for infrastructure and sustainability at TÜV SÜD Energietechnik GmbH.
