ECN to conduct large meteorological measuring programme in the North Sea

The Wind Energy department of the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) recently has been commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation to carry out a four-year meteorological measuring programme in the Dutch part of the North Sea. The aim is to collect better wind data that can be used for preparing new offshore wind farms in the areas that have been designated for this purpose in the Dutch National Water plan. As wind resources are one of the most important variables in calculating the yields of these future farms, it is very important to collect more reliable data. Eventually, it will lead to higher security and fewer risks for investors, resulting in lower costs.

Wind measuring is already done on various platforms in the North Sea, but these are insufficiently accurate for offshore wind energy. For example, the measuring height is usually too low and so are the measuring frequencies.

Various sensors
To conduct these measurements, ECN will hire a meteorological tower that is going to be built by RWE this fall at a distance of about 40 nautical miles (appr. 75 km) off the coast, west of IJmuiden. Sensors will be installed at four different heights (between 30 and 100 metres) that measure and record wind speed, wind direction, temperature and pressure fluctuations. To be able to design safe and cost efficient foundations for wind turbines in the future, the meteorological tower will also be used for measuring sea currents and wave data.

In addition, plans are being made to install a Lidar system on Lichteiland Goeree (located at 16 nautical miles (30 km) southwest of Hoek van Holland. With this system wind measurements can be conducted by means of laser beams that are invisible to the eye.

All measuring data will be collected in a database that will become available to the public. Moreover, the outcome of the research will be used in the research and development programme of the FLOW consortium (Far and Large Offshore Wind).

FLOW Consortium
The FLOW project was started in 2009 by the Dutch companies and knowledge institutes Essent-RWE, Eneco. TenneT, Ballast Nedam, Van Oord, IHC Merwede, 2-B Energy, XEMC Darwind, ECN and Delft University of Technology. On this occasion, the partners drew up a business plan that enables the parties involved to take a leading position on the European market for offshore wind farms. Next to opportunities for additional employment, it is in the interest of the Dutch government that the European targets for renewable energy (14% in 2020) are realised, part of which with the help of offshore wind. The objective of the FLOW Plan is to realise a cost reduction of 20% for Far Shore wind energy in 2015 (compared to 2010). Worldwide knowledge and experience with wind farms that are located far from the shore and in deep waters is still limited. FLOW aims to increase the reliability of this type of wind farms, to accelerate the development and at the same time lower the risks and costs.

About ECN
The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) is the largest research institute in the Netherlands in the field of energy and holds a strong international position. With its energy research, ECN focuses on a sustainable energy system: safe, reliable and environment-friendly. ECN develops knowledge and technology for the Dutch government and trade and industry and transfers them to the market. Three basic elements are distinguished (the so-called trias energetica), i.e. reducing energy demand by means of energy saving, generating energy from sustainable sources and clean and efficient use of fossil fuels. ECN also conducts research on future opportunities and economic backgrounds in the field of energy.

More information
For more information please contact ECN Press officer Florentine de Maar, telephone +31 (0) 224 564040 and e-mail: demaar@remove-this-part-ecn.nl
and
Wind energy contact person: Henk Oostrum, telephone +31 (0) 224 564728 and e-mail: oostrum@remove-this-part-ecn.nl.

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