The development of ocean test beds for ocean technology adaptation and integration into the emerging U.S. offshore wind energy industry

Abstract

The landscape of applied ocean technology is rapidly changing with forces of innovation emerging from basic ocean science research methodologies as well as onshore high tech sectors. There is a critical need for ocean-related industries to continue to modernize via the adoption of state-of-the-art practices to advance rapidly changing industry objectives, maintain competitiveness, and be careful stewards of the ocean as a common resource. These objectives are of national importance for the dynamic ocean energy sector, and a mechanism by which new and promising technologies can be validated and adopted in an open and benchmarked process is needed. POWER-US seeks to develop Ocean Test Beds as research and development infrastructure capable of driving innovative observations, modeling, and monitoring of the physical, biological, and use characteristics present in offshore wind energy installation areas.The Industry Need: Throughout the second half of the last century, ocean technology advancements ushered in new ocean-related industries and ocean advancements that changed the course of history. Remote and deep water oil and gas exploration and extraction methods, bottom survey methods, global shipping route optimization, ocean storm and weather forecasting, etc. have enabled substantial economic gains. That much of ocean science and engineering today continues to rely on technologies developed in the last century is a testament to the robust nature of our previous development efforts. However, more recent technological innovations in environmental sensing, computing, and automation offer the potential to further revolutionize both existing ocean-related industries such as: energy, mining, transportation and shipping, global trade, adaptation and resiliency, defense and security, salvage, and ocean exploration as well as newly emerging ocean uses.One clear example of the need for rapid adoption of new technology is in the area of offshore wind energy production. As a new energy industry in the U.S., offshore wind shows tremendous potential as a component of the nation's energy future portfolio. However, solid scientific data on the design characteristics as well as consensus on the interactions of a wind farm with the marine environment are critical to reduce risk, advance public acceptance, and evolve the regulatory process. Coupling this with the unique conditions present over the U.S. outer continental shelf in areas slated for development, an acute need exists for creating the physical and organizational infrastructure to rapidly move innovations in site characterization through systematic validation and into industry best practices and/or regulatory requirements. This process requires an open and evolving infrastructure that allows benchmarked data sets to test and evaluate sensors, improved systems modeling, and analysis by neutral, disinterested parties. POWER-US White Paper May 2018Ocean Test Beds 2In the current era, a program of research through which ocean technology can be applied, vetted, and validated ...

Reaching convergence in United States offshore wind energy research : a multidisciplinary framework for innovation, a white paper authored by the Massachusetts Research Partnership in Offshore Wind

“…Representatives from a broad range of research, government, and industry groups made this assessment in order to characterize the challenges facing the industry and to determine what tools exist to meet those challenges. Summarized here, the results are fully described in a white paper that details both potential near-term, industry-changing advancements and that lays out the need for ocean test beds as research and development infrastructure (Kirincich et al 2018). These physical and virtual facilities must be capable of driving innovative observations as well as the modeling and monitoring of the physical, biological, and use-characteristics present in offshore wind energy installation areas.…”