Norwegian Offshore Wind, Wazoku Team Up to Adress Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Emergencies

May 2, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Norwegian Offshore Wind (NOW) has launched a new crowdsourcing campaign with innovation scale-up Wazoku, aiming to capture new ways to manage emergencies on full-scale floating offshore wind turbines.

The challenge, named ‘Floating Offshore Wind-Safe Solutions for Black Swan Events’, calls for solutions from sustainability start-ups that prioritise environmental and human safety, as well as the financial stability and operational efficiency of the offshore wind sector.

“Offshore wind turbines are often deployed in high-risk areas, such as seismic zones and shipping lanes, meaning the challenge of managing emergencies is huge,” said Narve Hansen, Accelerator Manager, Norwegian Offshore Wind.

“If a turbine becomes unmoored it could be catastrophic, so finding ways to manage this is vital for the offshore wind sector. I’m excited to see what the Wazoku Crowd can deliver in collaboration with our 380+ members.”

Ideas will be accepted at any Technology Readiness Level (TRL), particularly those at TRL 4 (Proof of Concept) or higher, according to the press release.

NOW said that solutions must exhibit flexibility, scalability, compatibility with North Sea conditions, low maintenance, and longevity. Innovations showing potential for cross-industry applicability and previous industry engagement will be viewed favourably, according to the organisation.

This is the first challenge run as part of the two-year NOW Accelerator, the accelerator for start-ups and scale-ups focused on the offshore wind industry.

It connects great ideas with industry stakeholders, mentors, partners, and investors, and this challenge is led by programme members Å Energi and Corio Generation.

Further NOW Accelerator challenges have also launched. One, led by Danish multinational energy company Ørsted is seeking sustainability start-ups to help reduce noise emissions from underwater survey equipment for the offshore wind industry.

Another is led by Seaway7 and will be introducing an initiative aimed at advancing Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) Mooring & Dynamic Cable infrastructure.

Recognising the complexities of FOW systems, the new challenge addresses issues such as the high costs of installation, logistics, and the need for bespoke solutions that currently hinder scalability and economic viability, according to NOW.