Metocean buoy installed in the Dutch North Sea

Wind, waves and currents have a profound impact on the construction, the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Therefore, the offshore wind farm Eneco Luchterduinen and RWE Innogy are testing a new and innovative metocean buoy that has been installed yesterday in the Dutch North Sea.

The buoy has been deployed for a six month validation period nearby the already existing IJmuiden met-mast of RWE Innogy, some 75 km west off IJmuiden in the Tromp Binnen wind farm area.

The floating platform with a diameter of 2.8 meter and a weight of around 1.7 tonnes is collecting data on wind, current, wave and ambient conditions. An independent analyst will evaluate the data, with the results expected to be available in summer 2014. The project is co-funded by FLOW (Far and Large Offshore Wind), a research and development programme sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

“Wind and wave data is of fundamental importance for the development, construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Affordable non-stationary equipment for accurate assessment of wind resources can improve the measuring methodology and ultimately reduce costs for offshore wind projects