Remote sensoring for an offshore windfarm maintenance system

In the current offshore wind energy market high cost efficiency is a major factor. While budgets become more limited, the demands for the structures are constantly increasing. Wind turbine park owners (and operators) now request a lifetime of 25 years or more for their off shore structures. The integrity of wind turbine structures can be assessed in several ways including static strength, fatigue and impact strength of both the above- and under water parts. Corrosion, on the other hand, receives less attention even though it is ranked in the top 3 failure mechanisms for structures in general. Key aspects are coating degradation in the tower and foundation, as well as, Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) in enclosed areas. To achieve a 25 years lifetime, a robust asset management system must be developed that is fed with reliable data. The system must include the remote assessment and monitoring of corrosion, including MIC