Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) is expanding the number of offshore measuring locations and is entering a partnership with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
ECN, KNMI, Rijkswaterstaat and several other parties have various measurement masts and measurement systems set up off the coast from Egmond aan Zee, IJmuiden, Borssele and by the Goeree light platform.
All the data from these met masts, floating LiDARs and LiDARs on platforms in the North Sea is collated in one place: at ECN.
“We are the independent institute in the Netherlands that collects and validates offshore wind data and makes it available to the market,” said ECN’s R&D Manager Wind Energy Peter Eecen.
“We check that the measurements were conducted correctly and publish them at www.windopzee.net. We guarantee the quality of the data that is provided to the market.”
Approximately 56 km off the coast of Hoek van Holland lies the Europlatform where ECN measures the wind conditions for new wind farms that are in development for the Hollandse Kust Zuid.
The LiDAR measurement system in this location has been operational since mid-May, said Eecen.
Later this year, ECN will conduct wind measurements further offshore on the K13 wind platform for the Dutch coast.
Project Manager Hans Verhoef said: “The wonderful thing is that this enables us to continue to increase the accuracy of the wind map for the whole North Sea by taking measurements both near the coast and further out to sea. This information is used in the development of new wind farms and for other applications, including flight paths or the weather forecast for example. We are going to work with KNMI to put the measurement results to the best use and to share both costs and knowledge.”
It is agreed in the National Energy Agreement (Nationaal Energieakkoord) that the Netherlands must be producing a total of 4,450 MW of electricity through offshore wind energy by 2023.
Validated measurements enable ECN to demonstrate the potential for establishing offshore wind power in various areas in the North Sea.
“The wind conditions in a given location change constantly and relatively little is known about the conditions especially at higher altitudes. We take measurements 24/7 and publish wind speeds from a range of altitudes at ten minute intervals. Our wind studies and multi-year measurements in particular provide reliable projections of the expected wind conditions for project developers. This gives investors confidence,” Eecen said.