Certification of installation aids equipment for fixed offshore wind farms
Joint Industry Project
Joint Industry Project for developing a standard for the certification of installation aids equipment for the construction of fixed offshore wind farms.
Challenge
Increasing and complex demands on the fixed offshore wind turbine installation aids are pushing existing processes and standards to the limit. Different practices and missing standardisation are creating inconsistency, unnecessary costs, and risk throughout the industry.
In general, the certification of the installation aids for fixed offshore wind farms is challenging based on the few not aligned codes available now.
DNV customers are very much aware that these equipment are not covered by a certain product code therefore they engage DNV for pre-approving the base of design. These discussions are often extensive, and time-consuming and results in non-uniform approaches across industry.
Solution
The main objective of the project is the provision of a decision tool and reference that can be used by all stakeholders during the specification; design; manufacture; procurement and approval of any equipment intended for the installation and decommissioning of fixed wind turbines.
Scope
General
The notes about the technical scope of the JIP are just a proposal to be used for the initial discussions with parties interested in participation in this JIP.
The final scope will be established within the JIP with all participants from the perspective of the industry, DNV expects a great deal of feedback from all the partners.
Equipment to be covered by the JIP
The intention of the JIP is to address a wide variety of installation aids.
The following list of equipment is just for example might and doesn’t represent a comprehensive or exclusive list. The experience proves that new equipment (hybrids or entirely new) could come up at anytime.
- Lifting aids:
- For components including as examples MonoPiles, towers, jackets, nacelles, blades, etc
- For scouring protection (installation of anti-scouring mitigations)
- Subsea lifting of specialized tools (e.g. foundation drilling or grouting)
- MonoPile Grippers
- MonoPiles upending tools (buckets, hinges)
- Noise Mitigation Systems (NMS)
- Hammers (definitively the lifting aspect can be included at “lifting aids” but the hammering aspects may be interesting as well)
- Passive guiding structures (e.g. for vertical drilling of foundations)
- Geo-drillers/foundation drillers
- Grouting tools
Principles for the JIP
No wheel is reinvented – all relevant parts from existing codes will be reused for building a clear and pragmatic certification process/scheme.
The potential gaps shall be identified and solutions for closing these gaps could be agreed and incorporated in the outcome of the JIP.
Benefits
The outcome of the JIP will provide the possibility for an effective certification of this equipment, will be a reliable benchmark for the industry and to save time and money for all stakeholders.
Value
The development of a unified approach will ensure consistency across the supply chain without excluding customization, such that any user can refer to internal standards during their decision-making process, without deviating from the industry standard.
Project status
Call for partners.
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