Floating LiDAR deployment at Utsira Nord a milestone for offshore wind development in Norway

TGS is a leading provider of energy data and offshore wind analysis. The buoy, which is part of a global campaign by TGS to deliver high-quality wind measurements to offshore wind developers, was just deployed in the Utsira Nord.

- We are completely dependent on good data to support our great ambitions. Utsira Nord builds industry and equips developers and suppliers for future floating projects. Therefore, data from there will contribute actively to increasing our knowledge. This, in combination with the test activities we have at the METCentre and Norwegian technology development, means that Norway can become a world leader in floating offshore wind, says Arvid Nesse, head of Norwegian Offshore Wind.

The LiDAR will use sensors to perform wind, wave, current and environmental measurements to improve the decision-making processes for the three floating wind project areas to be awarded in Norway's first tender for floating offshore wind.

-Utsira Nord is an important and exciting power and industrial project. It is good that we have picked up the pace in the offshore wind investment and that the consortia have started specific activities. We need the data that will now be collected about wind, waves, ocean currents and birds if we are to succeed in developing power production in a good way, comments the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland.

Multi client approach

Jan Schoolmeesters, EVP for Digital Energy Solutions at TGS is happy to be part of this milestone for the Norwegian offshore wind industry. 

-Our multi-client LiDAR buoys improve the decision-making bases of all stakeholders investing in this region's offshore wind development. It has been considerable interest and commitment from the consortia competing for project areas in Utsira Nord, says Schoolmeesters.

TGS' unique multi-client approach, where several customers can subscribe to the same LiDAR data, helps to minimize uncertainty about future energy production, improve the planning of project development and reduce the cost and time associated with collecting wind, wave and current data that is necessary to develop and finance the projects.

The TGS buoy is equipped to provide a comprehensive range of data throughout a 12-month measurement campaign, with the possibility of extension by a further year. Alongside the measurement of wind strength and profile, the data package includes measurement of wave heights, ocean currents as well as acoustic monitoring of birds and bats.

Data is continuously streamed, quality controlled and made available to customers on a daily basis through the Wind AXIOM platform of TGS, a comprehensive evaluation and wind data analysis tool that allows stakeholders to analyze the most key factors affecting their offshore wind projects.

Utsira Nord marks the sixth global deployment of a TGS multi-client LiDAR over the past 12 months, but is the first aimed at floating offshore wind. The sea depth at Utsira Nord is approximately 270 metres. The other five buoys are now active off the US East Coast, and TGS is planning further deployments in offshore wind markets worldwide.