A QUICK GUIDE TO

OFFSHORE WIND
DEVELOPMENT
OVERCOMING ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03
The UN Sustainable Development Goals and offshore wind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .04
Offshore wind farm development phases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05
Strategic site selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06
Planning and development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09
Installation and construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Operations and maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Decommissioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Sustainable management of water-related challenges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Real-world solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
About DHI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 02

FOREWORD
The offshore wind energy era is upon us.

First harnessed more than 30 years ago, the global For us, it’s vital that offshore wind projects have easy
offshore wind industry is set for dramatic growth. The access to reliable water environment-related data to
industry has matured in Europe, while Asia and North ensure optimal economic, environmental and social
America are swiftly taking strides towards their full site-specific conditions.
potential.
This eBook demonstrates key processes, tools and
Thanks to three decades of hard-earned progress industry insights for offshore wind developers,
by industry and governmental leaders, 2020 marked operators, investors, as well as government partners,
a milestone when renewable energy overtook fossil to understand the water-related challenges in
fuels for the first time as the main electricity source in offshore wind farm development. The guidance
Europe (Ember and Agora Energiewende, 2021). provided in this document is based on DHI’s 30 years
of experience in the industry and contribution to
As part of this energy transition, the United Nation's more than 85% of all commissioned offshore wind
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents farms worldwide.
the world’s plan of action for environmental
sustainability, social inclusion and economic At DHI, we are passionate about developing solutions
development. Its Sustainable Development Goal 7 that solve difficult water challenges. We leverage the
urges countries to ensure access to affordable and latest scientific advancements in water modelling,
clean energy for all by 2030. management and research to help offshore wind farm
projects succeed in each phase of development.
Reaching such goals in a timely manner requires
international collaboration that promotes sharing Overcoming the barriers to achieve sustainable water
best practices related to planning, designing, building management requires cross-sectoral and cross-border
and operating an offshore wind farm. As offshore collaboration. We know reaching this target won’t be
wind markets develop, they’re looking at Europe’s easy, but it is possible. And we are here to help.
developed landscape of favourable policies and
regulatory programs, advantageous pricing for -DHI
proven technologies and operational services, and
its pool of specialised experts for successful project
development.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 03

THE UN SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
AND OFFSHORE WIND
In 2015, 193 United Nations
member states signed on
to create a shared global
development framework based
on 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). To meet this SDG
framework, the global offshore
wind industry is instrumental.

Direct impacts:

Most obviously, the industry can harness a clean,

renewable energy source—the wind.
Sustainable Development Goals related to offshore wind

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Indirect impacts: The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not
reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States

Even indirectly through operations, the entire value

chain of an offshore wind project can generate While government investment, regulations and
profits, safe employment and economic growth. planning are essential to achieve the SDGs, other
Governments and civil society partnerships can stakeholders also need to understand and sustainably
ensure benefits extend beyond the life of a project, manage water environments for offshore wind
so the entire offshore wind industry can positively development.
impact the natural environment, climate change and
social capital too. This eBook focuses on what developers and operators
can do, both alone and in collaboration with other
This means offshore wind developments will be called stakeholders, to understand and sustainably manage
on to responsibly locate a project site, use safer water environments for offshore wind development.
processes, incorporate new sustainable technologies, For more detailed SDG guidance within the renewable
promote the wellbeing of local communities, and energy sector, check out the Sustainable Solutions
enhance environmental stewardship. Each of these Development Network’s Mapping the Renewable
efforts, if consciously considered, can be mapped to Energy Sector Atlas to the Sustainable Development
an SDG target. Goals.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 04

OFFSHORE WIND FARM
DEVELOPMENT PHASES

Defining the phases of a typical Both government agency and developer roles, as well
as their required input, evolve throughout the phases
offshore wind project varies by of an offshore energy project.
region and regulatory framework.
For example, government agencies are central in
To explain the interconnected coastal and marine determining offshore wind farm concessions and in
expertise required for each phase, the phases of a the leasing process. Then, they are typically concerned
project are broadly broken down into the following: with review and approval in subsequent phases.

Work for developers, on the other hand, typically

Strategic site selection begins to intensify during leasing and site selection
processes. Developers usually experience various
peaks of activity in the subsequent phases to reach
investment decisions.

Planning and development

From an engineering perspective, each phase requires
evaluation of the ambient environment’s impact on
offshore wind structures. From an environmental
perspective, each phase requires evaluation of the
Installation and construction impact offshore wind structures have on the ambient
environment.

Having accurate, science-based input from marine

environment specialists for these phases can make
Operations and maintenance
all the difference when it comes to efficient decision-
making.

Decommissioning

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 05

STR ATEGIC SITE SELECTION
PHASE 1

In this eBook, ‘site selection’ refers to the process by DE-RISKING CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT
which government agencies outline offshore wind DECISIONS
farm concessions. It’s also when developers determine
if, or where, within the concessions a project is viable. Appropriate spatial planning and data analyses are
essential to limit a project’s potential negative impacts
Determining the location and dimensions of a and to meet regulations. The use of numerical and
concession is carried out via a master planning process. data-driven modelling for atmosphere and water, in
Or, for developers, it includes various iterations of combination with environmental surveys, is inevitable
‘scoping’ at different levels of analysis and decision- in the modern site selection process.
making.
The methods, data and modelling tools outlined
Depending on your position as a developer or in this eBook can help identify potential impacts
government agency, the goal is to: early to ease approval processes, as well as reduce
rescheduling and investment risks.
• Determine if an area or specific site has a
financially viable wind resource For example, various modules in the MIKE 21/3
• Determine the engineering solution type for the software suite are used to assess both the
specific site engineering and environmental challenges in each
• Determine if an area or specific site is project development stage. When used optimally,
environmentally feasible such software helps identify the most cost-effective
• Determine the tools and data required to assess construction and design approaches with the smallest
conditions throughout a wind farm’s life cycle environmental impact.
• Submit and obtain approval of a site assessment
plan (SAP) either before or after a site is selected Tools like ABM-Lab and MIKE Underwater Acoustic
Simulator (UAS) are used to simulate the dynamic
Many governments and developers choose to work behaviour of marine life and their interactions with
with specialists and consultants to complete these the environment. MIKE 3 Wave FM simulates extreme
varied and complex tasks more efficiently. Whether wave kinematics for evaluating impact loads and
for master planning or scoping, there is a need structure responses, and model seabed behaviour in
to investigate many environmental and economic close proximity to foundation structures.
variables unique to each area.
Investing in and establishing area-specific models
early means these models can more easily be adjusted
for analyses and tasks in subsequent phases to save
time and money.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 06

ASSESS INITIAL METOCEAN CONDITIONS
Make a good foundation!
Metocean factors comprise weather (meteorology)
By using customised tools and high-quality data
and sea (oceanography) conditions. To ensure in the strategic site selection phase, you can use
structural integrity and safe operations, it’s vital them throughout each phase of the offshore
to adopt systems that match the conditions at the life cycle to optimise operations and de-risk the
entire project. Think of the long-term ROI!
development site. To learn more, read the Metocean
Procedures Guide for Offshore Renewables published
by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science &
Technology (IMarEST).

Tools like the global MetOcean Data Portal can

accurately map and provide comprehensive site-
specific metocean data to help understand sea state
conditions, site workability and design criteria around
potential offshore wind installations. Obtaining such
information in the site selection phase goes a long
way in reducing risks—and in saving capital and
operational expenses.

Monopile Gravity Jacket Tripod Spar Semi-submersible Tension leg

< ~50m < ~30m < ~60m < ~50m > ~100m > ~40m > ~40m

Example of typical foundation types and applicable water depths

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 07

ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY UNDERTAKE ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS

To assess the environmental sensitivity of a potential Environmental surveys provide the necessary input
site, it’s important to detect mobile marine species for habitat and animal movement models mentioned
and identify the environmental conditions that above. These surveys are often used by respective
influence their movements. However, this is difficult regulatory bodies for ecological mapping and siting
due to the wide-ranging, patchy distributions of decisions.
marine mammals and seabirds.
The most important surveys to undertake in this
Luckily, dynamic habitat modelling can identify phase include:
environmental variables, like currents, that affect
marine animal movement. These models produce • Passive acoustic monitoring to assess occurrence
habitat suitability maps showing potential marine and habitat use of marine mammals and fish on a
animal hot-spots, sensitive areas and other important 24-hour basis
zones. On top of that, agent-based models can • Noise monitoring to assess baseline ambient
generate detailed maps of marine animal movements noise levels in sea regions before a project
and distribution in and around a potential wind farm commences
area. • Visual surveys by airplanes and ships to assess
the distribution and abundance of key species
Regulators, potential developers and other such as seabirds and marine mammals
stakeholders can access such resulting data via the • Metocean monitoring to provide, compare
Marine Animal Movement Portal (MAMP), an ideal and validate numerical models using long-
platform to identify environmentally suitable areas for term (40+ years) site-specific wind data and sea
wind farm development. state parameters, such as waves and currents,
to ensure optimal weather conditions and
bankability
• Other surveys may include geotechnical, shallow
hazards, archaeological resources, geological
surveys and biological surveys

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 08

PL ANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT
PHASE 2

Before starting construction, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN

a potential project needs If the design of an offshore wind project is poorly

to undergo a planning and matched to its potential location, it may affect its

development phase. installation, reliability, maintenance and survival. So

before starting to plan an offshore installation, you
This phase requires formal applications and approval need in-depth knowledge and understanding of a
procedures by local, national and/or international site’s specific conditions.
governing bodies. The three main goals of this phase
are to: To establish safe and cost-effective environmental
design criteria, one must rely on proven technology,
• Complete plans and engineering designs, accurate data and strong metocean engineering
including for related port facilities expertise.
• Secure planning consents and ensure a project is
economically feasible If conditional assessments were completed in a
• De-risk critical development decisions project’s site selection phase, the same site-specific
data and tools can be applied for this pre-construction
Planning and approval at the project site-level phase. With these tools, you can run analytical/
empirical models, physical models, numerical models
To build and operate a wind farm, approval authorities and analyse field data.
worldwide require accurate data, analyses and formal
plans. These requirements must cover both the You’ll need to (1) establish environmental design
environmental aspects of development, as well as criteria, (2) analyse loads and responses, (3) analyse
engineering and design aspects. scour and seabed mobility, and (4) optimise ports as
offshore wind supply hubs.
Stakeholder engagement can also be required to
approve a plan for a specific lease. Stakeholders with
significant perspectives on project-related geological,
environmental, biological, archaeological and
socioeconomic issues can affect potential leasing and
development.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 09

Establish environmental design criteria For this phase, physical-, numerical- and data-driven
modelling should aim to describe loads and responses
Offshore wind infrastructure is often subject to harsh of structures in relation to environmental conditions
environmental conditions, so it’s vital to take design for both short- and longer timespans. The modules of
criteria seriously. Many projects now deploy numerical MIKE 21/3 and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
models coupled with site-specific metocean data, are perfect for such complex data and modelling.
using means like the MetOcean Data Portal to
assess design criteria. These numerical models and
statistical methods are advanced enough to provide
an understanding of the effects of complex physical
phenomena (like cyclones, typhoons, etc.) on offshore
designs

Collaborating with specialised, reputable experts may

secure a quick and smooth process to build offshore
sites faster, smarter and at a lower cost. Such experts
MIKE 21/3 model of hydrodynamic conditions in the Thames Estuary
employ validated measurement campaigns developed
from appropriate datasets and calibrated instruments
to closely work with certifying bodies and developers. Design and optimise ports as supply hubs

Analyse loads and responses To establish a reliable supply chain for installing,
operating and maintaining an offshore wind project,
Regardless of whether your installation has a fixed or respective ports require metocean-related design,
floating foundation, loads and response analyses are engineering plans and approval.
critical to ensure it can safely withstand the conditions
at a given site. Port development elements requiring marine-related
monitoring and analyses include:
Wind turbine foundations face environmental
conditions which complicate the loads and response • Port layout plans
assessments used to guide optimised design • Operational and smart port systems
standards. Due to the complexity and magnitude of • Environmental studies
environmental loads, support structures may need to • Hindcast and forecast metocean data
become heavier and material consumption may need • Water-structure and structure-to-structure
to be increased. interaction
• Vessel navigation and responses
The design basis of offshore wind turbine foundations • Coastal and marine siltation predictions
is often based on historical data and extremal • Capital and maintenance dredging
analyses, but present and future trends demand • Scour and scour protection measures
more sophisticated probabilistic approaches to either • Breakwater stability, design and loads on
extend the design life or decrease the total cost of structures
structures over their lifetime.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 10

 . World-famous tools, like MIKE 21/3 in combination
with satellite imagery, are heavily used to model and
evaluate the stability of the seabed over the lifetime
of a wind farm. This includes general seabed levels
and the possible impacts of migrating bed forms
on offshore wind farm structures and secondary
structures.

Atmosphere
Temperature, pressure,
humidity, rain, snow, hail,
visibility, lightning
Turbulences
Turbulence intensity

Wind
Normal and
extreme @10m
and 100mMSL
Sea ice

Waves
Extreme waves
Water level and
storm surges
Marine growth

Water properties
pH, DO, salinity, water
temperature

Ocean Currents
Extreme currents and vertical
profile
Metocean conditions to consider for offshore wind development

11
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSENT Tools for offshore environmental impact
assessments
Approval for an offshore wind farm project is
based on environmental impact assessments (EIA) Baseline studies are key to conduct environmental
and consultations with various stakeholders. The assessments. There are several smart tools and
consultation process includes planners, regulators, practices that can help practitioners better collect
experts, the public and others, culminating in an and understand data required for an offshore wind
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) . project’s water-related EIA. These include:

The EIS generally describes the local environment, the • Methods like passive acoustic monitoring and
development itself, assessments of its possible visual surveys from airplanes and ships are perfect
effects, and proposed mitigation strategies for to identify the occurrence and habitat usage of
significant environmental impacts . marine mammals
• MIKE Underwater Acoustic Simulator (UAS) can be
Regulators then examine the EIS and decide whether used to model the reach of underwater noises
the residual effects are permissible. If consent is caused from development activities. Combining
granted, it may come with conditions to ensure further MIKE UAS with dynamic habitat modelling can
mitigation measures are employed . help investigate the number of marine animals
within the noise range and their reactions to it
To meet environmental regulations and ensure • Sediment plume modelling and scour assessment
best practices, projects may be required to adopt, tools can support other impact analyses
or should consider adopting a comprehensive
environmental monitoring and management plan Regional responsibilities
(EMMP) . An EMMP validates EIA analyses and helps
better manage construction and operational impacts . The potential effects of offshore wind farms differ
by regional regulations and species type. Specific
Environmental resources to assess regions require specific studies for certain species
depending on their occurrence and protection status.
Environmental impact assessments for offshore sites Other species have specialised analyses depending
can be more complicated than onshore sites because on their likelihood of interaction with the structures,
their impacts, processes and components span both sensitivities and avoidance responses.
coastal and marine ecosystems . To develop a truly
sustainable wind farm, it’s imperative to determine its By conducting environmental impact assessments
potential impacts to life underwater, in the air and on and monitoring, developers and operators can
land (see graphic on the next page). make decisions knowing all the environmental
consequences of their actions. Moreover, they can
guide appropriate actions to protect, restore and
Get your environmental impact enhance the environment.
assessments in place!

DHI can help monitor environmental impacts

throughout a wind farm’s entire life cycle so you
can protect the environment and get quicker
development approvals.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 12

GUIDANCE FOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Component Examples of what to analyse

• Generated sediment plumes (e.g., from trenching activities)

Water quality • Release of pollutants from mobilised sediments (sediment plumes)
• Release of pollutants from operation vessels, equipment and/or materials

Underwater • Changes in the underwater soundscape caused by construction activities (e.g.,

sound piling)

• Direct impact from anchor drag

• Influences of any altered seafloor morphology
Benthos
• Habitat and community population changes associated with the artificial reef effect
(i.e., benthos on turbine foundations)

• Influence of relevant pressures (e.g., altered oceanographic conditions, underwater

noise, changes in water quality, electromagnetic fields)
Fish
• Changes to habitats, distribution and associated community populations
• Focus on threatened, endangered or commercially relevant species

• Changes in resting, foraging and moulting patterns

Birds • Collision risk with wind turbines
• Migratory and protected species

• Relevant pressures (e.g., underwater noise, vessel strike risk)

Marine mammals
• Changes in the amount and distribution of species, particularly protected ones

Cultural & • Disturbance or loss of archaeological sources due to project development

archaeological
resources

Social and • Influence on recreational or commercial fisheries

economic • Effects to coastal recreational activities
activities • Disturbance to the visual horizon

• Shipping safety
Coastal safety • Coastal communities’ property and infrastructure

13
INSTALL ATION AND
CONSTRUCTION
PHASE 3

After a project gets approved Metocean forecasting for installation and

construction activities
and the final investment decision
is made, a series of activities Construction can’t take place unless meteorological

take place to prepare a site and and oceanic conditions are suitable. If operating tasks
are poorly matched to the operating environment,
to manufacture components for certain tasks may suffer significant delays.
installation.
Many installation and construction tasks require
The installation timeframe of project varies depending safe weather conditions for a stretch of a few days
on the development size, construction season, vessel to successfully complete. To conduct both survey and
capability and availability. access activities, vessels and aircrafts require suitable
conditions on arrival—otherwise their mission may
This phase includes preparing and installing foundation have to be aborted causing delays and considerable
structures, turbines and transformer stations, as well financial costs.
as final testing and commissioning. Installation of
inter-array cables, export cables and construction of To prevent such delays and save costs, such missions
substations also take place in this phase. can be planned for using effective forecasting tools,
like Metocean Risk Ops. This tool can:
Construction and operations planning
• Integrate metocean data with practical risk
Depending on your region’s regulations, this phase measures derived from vessel motions for short-
may require submission and approval of a Construction term forecast planning and seasonal analyses
and Operations Plan (COP). A COP describes all • Couple site-specific forecasts with hindcasts
proposed activities on a lease area and must include statistics to determine forecast uncertainty and
data and results from surveys. It must also provide de-risking information
the analysis of direct and indirect environmental and • Send alerts in the event of rapid, significant
socioeconomic effects resulting from the project. condition changes so mitigation actions can be
taken for personnel, operations and equipment
Due to the difficult nature of offshore environments, • Provide on-site forecasts for critical operations to
some construction and pre-commissioning activities monitor conditions and provide updates
are performed onshore and later transported to a site
for installation to minimise safety and financial risks.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 14

. Noise monitoring during installation and
construction

Several countries require monitoring of construction

noise to validate the impact assessment and/or
to verify compliance with marine life noise criteria.
Noise mitigation measures are often applied to
reduce the impact of underwater noise .

Mitigation measures can include engineering

solutions that make the sound sources
quieter. Measures can involve creating sound
barriers—like air bubble curtains—around a
turbine pile-driving site. Specific sounds can also
be produced to result in marine mammals leaving
the immediate zone of danger before construction
activities start.

Ensure the best metocean data!

.

Marine species monitoring and installation

management

When managing marine habitats during this phase

of an offshore wind development, having a digital
Marine Animal Movement Portal (MAMP) can help
generate detailed maps of mobile marine animal
species movements and distribution in and around a
wind farm site.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 15

OPER ATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE
PHASE 4

Wind farms require maintenance A robust O&M strategy is essential for both owners
and operators to:
throughout their typical
operational life of 20-25 years. • React when required to minimise risks during the

Successful projects have a O&M phase

• Minimise project downtime to reach and
data-backed operations and maintain targeted availability
maintenance (O&M) strategy that • Support both revenue generation and cost
management
includes preventive and reactive
• Avoid and minimise impacts to natural and
maintenance actions. socioeconomic resources
• Fulfil mitigation commitments and permits/
approvals
• Synergise the interdependences of offshore wind
farms and ports

Smart vessel planning

Operational metocean forecasts

Scour monitoring

Evaluate vessel routes

Marine species monitoring

Operations and maintenance planning

Jack-up risk evaluation

Operations and maintenance tasks

16
Post construction environmental monitoring Operational metocean forecasts

Monitoring is developed based on project and site- O&M is typically managed locally, 24-hours a day
specific considerations. While there is not an inclusive to assist with reaction times . For smart operations
list of all possible monitoring scenarios, below lists management, an overall O&M activity schedule can
some prominent tools used throughout the industry: be developed to calculate weather downtimes .

• MUSE (multi-sensor bird detection) combines Never underestimate the power of the sea—or winds.
radar technology with cameras to monitor Unsuitable offshore operating conditions can expose
seabirds and migrating birds in a project area people to risks of injury and death. Offshore conditions
24/7. This system helps provide reliable, cost- can change rapidly, so procedures should be in place
effective risk management of bird collisions rather to cope with foreseeable changes.
than solely relying on human observation
• Passive acoustic monitoring keeps track of marine Digital solutions like Metocean Risk Ops help collect
mammal and fish activities during operation and analyse data to apply to an O&M strategy to
ensure the highest levels of safety during O&M tasks.
An O&M strategy should describe actions based on
weather window durations, wave heights, wind speeds
and current speeds .

The O&M phase is particularly sensitive, as tasks

involving personnel transfer onto offshore structures
requires suitable weather conditions for vessels and
access systems . In addition to wind, wave and tidal
conditions, these other risks need to be considered:

• Lightning can be a hazard to people on offshore

structures
• Cold temperatures can cause hypothermia and
dangerous icy surfaces
• Rain, hail, snow and fog can affect visibility
• Warm air temperatures can cause heat stress for
those wearing a survival suit or working in hot
enclosed spaces

Like in the installation and construction phase,

the O&M phase requires smart vessel and aircraft
planning to ensure safe personnel transfer and reduce
downtime of vessels waiting for bad weather to clear.

MUSE (multi-sensor bird detection)

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 17

. Consider life extension

Offshore wind farm lifespans are based on technical

design considerations, commercial factors and legal
arrangements including leases, licencses and consents.
It is important that integrity is assured to extend a
project’s operational life. To support the commercial
business case for life extension (or re-powering), a
robust assessment of a project’s assets is required.

To do this, data from over a project’s lifetime is

combined with an asset integrity analysis. Collaborating
with specialised, reputable experts can help with
specific water environment monitoring tools and data
for offshore life extension and decommissioning tasks.

Get the right people for the right

support!

Now that your offshore wind farm is up and

running, now what? Ensure you link up with
industry experts to ensure safe and efficient
O&M, as well as plan for potential wind farm
life extension.

Scour hole

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 18

DECOMMISSIONING
PHASE 5

Offshore wind farm assets HOW DATA AND MODELLING CAN HELP
DECOMMISSIONING TASKS
that have been in service
beyond their design life—or
Deciding
their extended life—need to methodologies

be decommissioned safely
and economically. Many of Meeting laws and
regulations
the decommissioning phase’s
processes are like the installation
phase’s processes, but in reverse.
Decommissioning activities need to be in Optimising port and
onshore operations
accordance with initial permit conditions for the
project. Appropriately, this includes conducting an
environmental impact assessment of decommissioning Assessing risks
plans for the environmentally neutral removal of
offshore substructures and foundations, as well as
their transportation to shore. Mapping hazardous
materials

It’s important for a project’s site to be left in a

similar condition as it was before the project existed. Budgeting and
Decommissioning requirements, however, are unique scheduling

to each site depending on structure type, equipment,

natural conditions, regional regulations and more. Handling public
Also, there is a broad discussion among regulators relations
about leaving the subsurface structures in the sea
because they can embody artificial reefs.

So be sure to consult with an industry expert to take

the right steps for your project.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 19

Decommissioning environmental impact There are tools like MOOD Decom, an operational
assessments cloud-based system, that provides high-quality
metocean information to support decommissioning
Decommissioning environmental impact assessments activities like:
are like the ones described in the environmental
consent section. Similar tools—like the MIKE • Quantifying uncertainties
Underwater Acoustic Simulation (UAS)—are used • Integrating probabilistic measures of workability
to conduct numerical modelling and assess impacts • Monitoring near-real-time environmental impacts
from decommissioning activities. As such, operational • Forecasting and hindcasting
metocean forecasts and smart vessel planning will
also have to be organised. Accurate metocean information and translation into
practical risk measures are the keys to developing
reliable workability assessment that ensure cost-
efficiency and provide safer, compliant operations.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 20

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
OF WATER- REL ATED
CHALLENGES
Offshore wind is one of the Moreover, understanding an offshore wind project’s
major water environment-related processes, barriers
world’s fasting growing energy and solutions for each phase can help developers
sources, with no signs of pass consent regimes and help operators maintain

stopping in the coming decades. safe, productive service levels.

While cost and scalability are key considerations Managing the water environments of offshore wind
for a project’s success, it’s also vital to consider farms can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to
sustainable operations in and management of water be. There are plenty of specialty tools and expertise
environments. Each renewable energy project should available, as demonstrated in this eBook to get you
map out how it can align with and support the UN’s started. The following case stories provide further
Sustainable Development Goals. examples of typical offshore wind farm water-
environment related challenges and solutions.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 21

REAL- WORLD SOLUTIONS

Poland advances in renewable

energy approvals while protecting
marine life

Poland has ambitious renewable energy plans to battle climate

change. The country got its first ever offshore wind farm approved
thanks to cutting-edge noise, habitat and collision risk modelling that
fostered the protection of harbour porpoises and birds.

. Solution

• Underwater Acoustic Simulator proved porpoise impacts

could be minimised with noise mitigation measures.
• Dynamic habitat modelling enabled extrapolations about
the distribution of seabirds and increased EIA reliability.
• Collision risk modelling provided accurate data of birds at
risk of collision with wind turbines.

Reduced uncertainty of project Identified the best value for money Approval for the first of many offshore
impacts approach for noise mitigation wind farms in Poland

‘MEWO has successfully cooperated with DHI for over eight years implementing offshore wind farm
projects in Poland. DHI’s reliable analyses and reports on marine mammals, seabirds, migratory birds
and underwater noise modelling has supported us with the best solutions. Their professional team
considers the latest methods used around the world, provides guaranteed performance, and seamlessly
communicates with us every step of the way. We look forward to our continued cooperation.’

-Michał Sandar, Project Manager Deputy Director of Operations MEWO. S.A. (Subsea Solutions)

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 22

REAL - WORLD SOLUTIONS

Innovative design lowers costs of

offshore wind farm scour protection
systems by 30%

Today, scour protection for wind turbine foundations makes up a

considerable part of the installation cost. Vattenfall’s decision to use a
new approach for Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm paid off when
it resulted in significant cost savings.

Challenge Solution

The presence of a monopile in a marine environment • Single-layer scour protection approach applied instead of
changes the flow pattern in its immediate area, resulting in the traditional two-layer solution
increased local sediment transport. This causes scouring of • Wide-graded rock material encompassing both filter and
the seabed around the monopile—a serious risk that may armour effect installed in one step
compromise the stability of the wind turbine foundation. In • Total installation procedure reduced from three to two
addition, the cables on the seabed may risk exposure due to steps
the eroded seabed around the monopile.

30% cost savings due to optimised Installation steps reduced from three Chance to apply new R&D in the
scour protection design to two planning and design phase

‘DHI and LIC Engineering designed the application of wide-graded rock as

an innovative solution for scour protection systems, and this has shown to
be a viable design option with great potential for cost savings.’

-Victoria Ruiz Gomez, Project Manager, Offshore Foundations, Vattenfall

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 23

REAL - WORLD SOLUTIONS

MetOcean Data Portal sets up

success for Dutch offshore wind
development

The Netherlands’ offshore wind capacity is expected to total 11 GW by

2030. This is, in part, thanks to the delivery of the world’s first certified
digital database encompassing 40+ years of high-quality metocean
data. Now, developers have a basis to design, operate and maintain
new and future offshore wind farms in Dutch waters.

Challenge Solution

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency, on behalf of the Dutch • Create a user-friendly database for 40+ years of modelling
Government, needed to provide developers with easy access results (including both time series and 2D spectral data)
to consistent, reliable and high-quality metocean data. Such • Have a data portal that presents normal and extreme
data are fundamental to successfully design, operate and conditions at sea
maintain an offshore wind farm. • Use only top-quality data, validated against multiple
measurements

No further metocean studies needed, Provided access to certified, high Set basis for future offshore wind
resulting in reduced cost quality metocean data developments

‘We challenged DHI to provide a world-class metocean database to

allow developers to optimise their designs in the tender stage.
DHI exceeded our expectations.’

-Ben de Sonneville, Senior Consultant, BLIX Consultancy BV (on behalf of the client RVO.nl)

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 24

ABOUT DHI

DHI is a leading innovative, global advisory company that integrates

deep domain knowledge with advanced digital technology to enable
new ways to manage, protect and live with water and water-related
ecosystems.

DHI A/S
Agern Allé 5
DK-2970 Hørsholm
Denmark
www.dhigroup.com

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT:

Overcoming engineering and environmental challenges

Published as an eBook, available at:

www.dhigroup.com

Copyright © 2021 DHI, Hørsholm Denmark

All rights reserved.

This publication is for informational purposes only and does not

contain or convey legal or engineering advice.

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 25

REFERENCES

Agora Energiewende and Ember (2021): The European Power Sector in 2020: Up-to-Date Analysis on the
Electricity Transition. https://ember-climate.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Report-European-Power-Sector-
in-2020.pdf

Bailey, H., Brookes, K. L., & Thompson, P. M. (2014). Assessing environmental impacts of offshore wind farms:
lessons learned and recommendations for the future. Aquatic Biosystems. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1434/
ML14345A578.pdf

Brown et al., 2018. Metocean Procedures Guide for Offshore Renewables. https://www.imarest.org/
reports/650-metocean-procedures-guide/file

Bundesamt fuer Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH, 2013). Standard - Investigation of the Impact of
Offshore Wind Turbines on the Marine Environment (StUK 4). Standard-Investigation-impacts-offshore-wind-
turbines-marine-environment_en.pdf (bsh.de)

The Danish Energy Authority. (2006). Offshore Wind Farms and the Environment Danish Experiences from
Horns Rev and Nysted. Danish Energy Authority. https://tethys.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/
Danish_Energy_Authority_2006.pdf

DHI. (n.d.). Offshore Wind – Solutions to Global Challenges – DHI Water Challenges [Press release]. Retrieved
January 2021, from https://waterchallenges.dhigroup.com/offshore-wind/

K&L Gates, SNC Lavalin, & Atkins. (2018). Offshore Wind Handbook. https://www.snclavalin.com/~/media/
Files/S/SNC-Lavalin/download-centre/en/brochure/offshore-wind-brochure-en.pdf.

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (2020). Mapping the Renewable Energy Sector to the
Sustainable Development Goals

United Nations. (2018). Energy - United Nations Sustainable Development. United Nations Sustainable
Development. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy/

United Nations. (2018). Oceans - United Nations Sustainable Development. United Nations Sustainable
Development; United Nations. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/

A QUICK GUIDE TO OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT 26