Friday 31 May 2019

Call for entries from companies and consortia interested in undertaking a study to evaluate the need for fault detection and monitoring on the array system and how these would work in combination with other systems and site processes to minimise generation down time.

Cable failure in an offshore wind farm (OWF) array system can create significant issues for wind farm operators. As we see the array cable voltage levels and capacity increase as well as technical contingency decrease, through lean design, it is thought that the risk of failure shall only increase.

The OWA also hope to examine potential for online monitoring systems that offer real-time identification of changes in the array system. The ultimate aim of this project is to develop an array system with improved availability and reliability.

For further details, please find the relevant documents here.

Clarification questions should be received by 18:00 BST Thursday 13th June 2019 and the answers to these questions will be posted below by Tuesday 18th June 2019.

The closing date to receive tender submissions is 13:00 BST Thursday 4th July 2019.

All clarification questions and tender submissions should be sent electronically, by their respective deadlines, to ivan.savitsky@carbontrust.com, with rory.shanahan@carbontrust.com in copy.

The Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) is Carbon Trust's flagship collaborative RD&D programme. The joint initiative was set up between the Carbon Trust and nine offshore wind developers in 2008. The current phase involves nine offshore wind developers; these OWA partners account for 76% of Europe’s installed offshore wind capacity. The OWA programme aims to reduce the cost of offshore wind to be competitive with conventional energy generation, as well as provide insights regarding industry standard (and best practice) health and safety requirements.

Cost reduction is achieved through innovation. Technology challenges are identified and prioritised by the OWA partners based on the likely savings and the potential for the OWA to influence the outcomes. Projects are carried out to address these challenges, often using international competitions to inspire innovation and identify the best new ideas. The most promising concepts are developed, de-risked and commercialised as the OWA works closely with innovators and the supply chain throughout the process.

The OWA model brings together Carbon Trust's expertise in delivering innovation and convening industry consortiums with the industrial partners' technical knowledge and resources. The OWA core programme is part funded by the Scottish Government with the remaining funding coming from industry. Other funding sources are utilised on a project specific basis.

"The Carbon Trust have done a fantastic job so far in reducing the costs of offshore wind, as well as encouraging collaboration across the public and private sectors to improve the industry as a whole."

Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Scottish Government