Energy data and intelligence provider TGS has started a lidar buoy measurement campaign to support offshore wind development off Norway.
The campaign’s first floating LiDAR buoy will be deployed in the Utsira Nord zone and conduct wind, metocean, and environmental measurements to enhance decision-making for the three project areas to be awarded in Norway’s first floating wind lease round.
The Utsira Nord zone is situated in an zone where the water depth is approximately 270 metres.
At Utsira Nord, TGS will use a lidar buoy provided by Eolos, which is validated to Stage 3 criteria of the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator Roadmap for Commercial Acceptance.
In addition, TGS will deploy a Datawell Directional WaveRider buoy to cross-validate the fatigue limit state wave response and measurements.
TGS’ multi-client approach, where multiple customers can subscribe to the same floating lidar data, reduces development costs and timelines and provides early opportunity to minimise uncertainty in future energy generation.
The TGS buoy will deliver a comprehensive suite of data over a 12-month measurement campaign with the option to extend for an additional year.
In addition to wind speed measurements, the information package includes critical metocean and environmental data such as significant wave heights, ocean current profiles, and acoustic monitoring of birds and bats.
Data will be continuously streamed, quality-controlled, and available to customers daily through the Wind AXIOM platform, TGS’ site evaluation and wind data analytics tool.
Jan Schoolmeesters, EVP of Digital Energy Solutions at TGS, commented, “TGS is very pleased with the high level of interest and commitment from the offshore wind consortia competing in the Utsira Nord lease round for the measurement campaign.
“The data, combined with analytics through our Wind AXIOM platform, is expected to significantly enhance the decision-making and risk-reduction ability of all stakeholders investing in this region’s offshore wind development future.”