Over the past years, energy generated by offshore wind farms has increased by 30%, according to the World Economic Forum (2020). Due to the increase in offshore wind farms, we would expect this would account for a certain percentage of the world’s electricity supplies. However, energy from offshore only covers 1%.
Why are we not utilizing more energy from offshore wind farms?
Offshore wind farms are efficient in generating renewable energy, but they are also at the same time complex and expensive to manage. The offshore wind farms are expensive to build; there is an ongoing cost for operations and maintenance. According to the World Economic Forum, installing and commissioning an offshore wind farm would cost around £650 million, and then there are also ongoing maintenance costs (2020).
Constructing optimal and cost-effective infrastructures at offshore wind parks is also a tricky challenge. First, it’s essential to have an optimal infrastructure since it’s challenging to manage installation, construction, operation, and maintenance far out at sea.
If we want to utilize energy generated from offshore wind parks, we can’t keep doing the same things we are doing now. Therefore, there is a need to look into new technologies that can manage the challenges of operating offshore wind parks.
How to secure your offshore wind farm
The development of SCADA systems supports the expansion of offshore wind parks to optimize performance and diagnostics and predict maintenance that can reduce costly site visits. At SCADA International, we see a demand for innovative solutions that can contribute to the growth of offshore wind farms.
“We need to expand the smart and intelligent systems if we want to speed up the investment in the offshore wind industry. Smart solutions enable quick decision-making and better decisions that require accurate information about processes, performance, and assets. By having the correct technology, you can manage your offshore wind farm more efficiently and avoid too many expensive inspections and improve the production of energy,” says Hans Henrik Puggaard, Director Global Account at SCADA International.
OneView® SCADA from SCADA International provides a streamlined overview of your assets – for all data models and interface technologies. By delivering information across your entire fleet, the OneView® SCADA solution keeps you completely up to date on the status of your asset portfolio – with monitoring options at unit and park levels. These features will ensure the optimal operation of your assets while maximizing their value – also when you are offshore.
