Grant for next-generation condition monitoring
09/06/2020
Aker Solutions and Cognite have been awarded a US$2 million (approximately £1.6 million) grant from the California Energy Commission for a project called ‘NextWind Real-Time Condition Monitoring’.The project aims to develop a holistic digital solution that will enable condition monitoring of a floating wind farm and its impact on the environment via live data streaming.
Both companies are based in Norway and specialise in developing digital representations of industrial processes. They were selected for the grant award as part of the California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC).
The EPIC provides grants for companies applying research and projects designed to help develop next-generation wind energy technology.
Projects must include objectives that increase the competitiveness, performance and reliability of wind generation, while reducing costs and effects on the environment and wildlife.
A digital twin of physical offshore wind assets will be developed to assess conditions and integrity management. The real-time information it provides will enable analysis of data to help reduce operating expenses and maintenance costs by improving production efficiencies.
Making this data available to a wide range of users will allow for additional understanding of environmental and wildlife impacts to help reduce mitigation.
In April 2018, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority selected a consortium, which includes Aker Solutions, Principle Power and EDPR Offshore, to enter into a public-private partnership to pursue the development of the proposed Redwood Coast offshore wind project.
The 150 MW floating offshore wind farm is being planned 30 km off the coast of Humboldt Bay, California, and is expected to come online in the mid-2020s.
