safety

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $700,000 in funding for nine academic and research institutions across Massachusetts to advance studies relating to offshore wind development, building on the Commonwealth’s existing nation-leading offshore wind innovation activities. The funding will support three offshore wind research projects to identify industry workforce training and safety requirements; establish a multi-university partnership focused on innovation and driving down costs; and develop a new technique to monitor the structural health of wind blades. http://www.masscec.com/about-masscec/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-700000-funding-offshore-wind-research

Recommended best practices address three major areas relevant to the offshore wind project approval process: 1) structural reliability; 2) manufacturing and fabrication, construction and installation, and qualification testing; and, 3) safety of equipment, operation and inspection, and decommissioning.

The report summarizes the results of a two-day workshop that exchanged "lessons learned" in support of US offshore renewable energy development.  Key areas of conversation included electrical infrastructure and sub‐sea transmission, platform and foundation designs, project management and planning, installation, construction, and safety.

The report summarizes results of investigations into accidents and safety incidents at offshore wind farms, recommended owner's safety management systems, and recommended facilty design reports to ensure structural safety and reliability of offshore wind farms.

The report investigates resonance coincidence and its impact on the structural design characteristics of offshore wind turbines. It offers a set of potential vibration mitigation and resonance avoidance strategies.

The study provided a baseline comparison of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) design requirements for offshore wind turbines (IEC 61400-3) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) recommended practice for the design of fixed offshore platforms (API RP-2A). Standards were compared in terms of structural reliability for extreme storm conditions. The study found that either guideline can be modified to achieve a target level of reliability and that metocean variability can be accomodated with adjustments to load or resistance factors.

The report reviews the applicability and adequacy of standards and practices for the design, fabrication, and installation of offshore wind turbines, as well as the role and requirements of third-party certified verification agents (CVAs). The focus is limited to the safety of structural and operational characteristics of offshore wind turbines.

The report develops recommendations for guidelines for inspection of offshore wind turbine facilities. It also identifies challenges to assessing their condition, including performing close visual inspection of wind turbine blades in situ, and identifying the extent and cause of structural inclination.

The report provides recommended inspection guidelines for offshore wind turbine structures. The scope of these guidelines encompasses the structural integrity of the support structure (above and below water), blades and nacelles (including any helicopter abseil platforms), appurtenances, cables and access structures such as walkways, stairways and platforms.