The US has launched an initiative to develop a set of standards for the offshore wind sector.
The three-year project is a collaboration between the the Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Business Network for Offshore Wind and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
An Offshore Wind Technical Advisory Panel comprising industry stakeholders has been formed and will guide the scope of activities for a group of new technical sub-working groups, which will develop the standards.
The proposed sub-groups cover the updating of the AWEA’s 2012 offshore compliance recommended practices, floating offshore turbines, geotechnical data requirements and met-ocean requirements for US waters.
The standards, which will be recognised by the American National Standards Institute, will allow BOEM to “adopt better requirements that reflect the latest industry best practices”.
NREL principal engineer and chairman of the Offshore Wind Standards working group Walt Musial said: “These standards and guidelines will form the basis for BOEM to establish transparent compliance requirements that will help industry in turn provide safe and reliable offshore wind facilities that serve the US electric supply.”
NREL will host a webinar on 26 September to provide information on the work to stakeholders and potential working group participants.
Image: Deepwater Wind
US eyes offshore rules
Three-year initiative launched to develop industry standards for the sector
By EBS