DNV GL Calls for Development of Guideline to Reduce Cyclone and Earthquake Challenges for Wind Turbines

The ACE (Alleviating Cyclone and Earthquake Challenges for Wind farms) Joint Industry Project is aiming to gather experiences from cross-industry players to align wind turbine design methodologies for those extreme weather conditions.

Seismic and cyclone impacts on wind turbines is of critical importance in emerging offshore markets such as the Asian Pacific region like Taiwan, Japan, Korea as well as parts of the United States. As these countries are entering the offshore wind market with ambitious roadmaps to develop multi-megawatt offshore wind projects, providing a joint industry approach for designing turbines for these extreme local environmental conditions is vital, to ensure the safety of the offshore structures in those emerging markets.

The lack of an aligned guideline often leads to increased work volume between wind farm developer, turbine manufacturer, designer and certification body, causing delays and increasing costs of projects. The ACE Joint Industry Project aims to bring more transparency and reduce uncertainty in the design of offshore wind turbines. The Recommended Practice will increase the financial robustness of future wind farms developed for the emerging offshore markets.

Kim Mørk, Executive Vice President Renewables Certification at DNV GL added: “All industry stakeholders acting in emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region and the U.S. will benefit from the ACE project as it will help to minimize cost, warranty and liability risks and optimize wind turbine design for seismic and typhoon conditions. As the focus area for this joint industry project was developed mutually with different wind industry stakeholders, the feedback during the initiating phase has already emphasized the necessity of aligning the industry in this area.”

The call for partners is now open, companies interested in joining this Joint Industry Project can contact Marcus Klose, Project Manager of the JIP and Head of Section for Steel Structures at DNV GL, Renewables Certification.