Ceit to take part in the Integria project to extend the lifespan of floating offshore wind turbines

Ceit continues to drive innovation in floating offshore wind turbines via the Integria project, which will be developing a digital model to manage the structural integrity of floating wind turbines via the combination of a system of sensors for in-service monitoring and physical models applied to critical components.

The project, which will be undertaken over a three-year period, will construct decision-making algorithms for operations and maintenance (O&M) that will enable the lifespan of floating wind turbines to be significantly extended.

Ceit Technology Centre has already started working on the Integria project – a research initiative that will be undertaken over a three-year period, the aim of which is to develop a unique digital model to manage the structural integrity of critical components in floating wind turbines by applying a system of sensors for in-service monitoring combined with physical models. Under its full title of "Research into Structural INTEGRity in Floating Wind Turbines via Artificial Intelligence-based Models”, this project seeks to revolutionise the way in which operations and maintenance is dealt with in floating offshore wind turbines.

Floating technology underwent significant advances in 2022 with the commercial launching and setting aside of areas earmarked for the development of wind turbines throughout the world with plans to install up to 30 GW over the next decade. On a national level, Spain’s aim is to install 3 GW in floating wind turbines by 2030, providing a strategic opportunity for the supply chain in the Basque Country, which has already been consolidated within the field of floating wind turbine prototypes.

A comprehensive approach

Although there are diverse models and tools currently existing for offshore O&M, these evidence limitations such as the lack of real information about fault rates or shortcomings in terms of a comprehensive overview that covers all aspects regarding the different critical components and O&M activities involved in a wind farms.

Integria seeks to ensure that every component of the floating offshore wind farm provides precise data by integrating this into digital models. These models will enable detection and prevention algorithms to be generated to deal with problems such as faults, fatigue and wear-and-tear. The ultimate goal is to construct decision-making algorithms for operations and maintenance (O&M) that will enable the lifespan of floating offshore wind turbines to be significantly extended.

The Integria project faces unique challenges, as it goes beyond simply demonstrating the proper functioning of technologies in individual prototypes. It needs to guarantee operation throughout the lifespan of a wind turbine and demonstrate both the technical and financial viability of the prototype. To overcome these challenges, Integria is backed up by real-time monitoring and the anticipation of results thanks to the combination of different types of models.

The project, funded by the HAZITEK programme and set in motion by the Basque Government, is headed by Nautilus Floating Solutions, and twelve companies and a further two technologic centres are taking part alongside Ceit: Alerion, CIDETEC, CoreMarine, Ditrel Industrial, ERREKA, GLUAL Energy, HINE Group, Ibermática, Innomat, Kera-Coat, LAULAGUN Bearings, NAVACEL and TECNALIA.