The UK offshore wind sector is set to benefit from a new European FP7 project , LEANWIND, through the participation of Lloyd’s Register Energy, the industry’s foremost authority on managing risk.
The project seeks to address inefficiencies in logistics and transport issues for offshore wind installations and so contribute to the reduction of costs.
Lloyd’s Register Energy is leading a work package on novel vessels and equipment with the aim of identifying and tackling technical issues to achieve cost reduction in the installation and maintenance of offshore wind farms. Lloyd’s Register Energy and partner organisations will be using design, numerical analysis and experimental testing to examine new or modified vessel designs and equipment innovations.
Rebecca Sykes, Marine Energy Leader for the Renewables division of Lloyd’s Register Energy said:
“We are pleased to be partnered with a number of stakeholders across the supply chain for this project including utilities, wind farm operators, service vessel builders, installation vessel operators, experimental testing facilities and research institutions.
“The challenges of offshore wind remains in reducing the overall cost, the opportunity to identify new vessels and technologies that better control costs and improve operational results is paramount, together with an understanding of the associated risk. We see this project as an important step forward for the industry’s future development.”
Press release, March 3, 2014; Image: Lloyd’s Register Energy