Offshore wind database launched to cut costs

Offshore windfarm operators are to share data aimed at improving turbine performance and cutting costs, on a new platform launched on Wednesday.

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and the Crown Estate are investing £850,000 in the “Sparta” collaboration programme.

They will set up an anonymised database of performance and maintenance information that allows developers to identify opportunities to cut costs.

ORE Catapult innovation programmes director Chris Hill said: “Working in close collaboration with The Crown Estate and other key organisations in the offshore renewables sector will enable us to speed up the delivery, commercialisation and scalability of technology innovation. This will help to meet the challenges of harnessing low-carbon power from offshore wind by driving down costs and realising significant economic, social and environmental benefits.”

Huub den Rooijen, the Crown Estate’s head of offshore wind, added: “With the largest base of operating turbines in the world, the UK offshore wind sector has an unrivalled knowledge base to draw on. Sparta for the first time creates a way for industry to use this to its strategic advantage, providing access to a wealth of information that will enable operators to better understand the performance of their wind farms and where there might be opportunities for cost reduction.”

Centrica, RWE, SSE, Statkraft and Statoil have already signed up to the trial, which will run until March 2015 before the system is scaled up.

Tony Lyon, head of renewables operation and maintenance at Centrica, said: “Centrica Energy is pleased to be a contributory member of Sparta and believes sharing experience and understanding is key to delivery of a sustainable low carbon economy.”