The exciting advances in floating offshore wind bring huge opportunity to utilise untapped wind resource in previously inaccessible deep water locations. However, with this new technology still in its infancy, it is critical to ensure the safe planning and deployment of both projects and personnel.

G+ has partnered with The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG) to consider the health and safety risks and mitigating actions, concerning the workforce and supply chain involved in the construction and operation of commercial scale floating offshore wind (FOW) projects.

Floating offshore wind technology is expected to mature significantly over the coming decade as an increasing number and size of projects are constructed and operated. This initiative considers commercial FOW projects as more than 200MW and deploying 15 MW turbines. To date, only 124 MW on 22 platforms have been installed globally. As such, there is an opportunity to consider these risks early in the development phase of the floating offshore wind industry.

To examine the health and safety risks of FOW, an assessment and ranking was conducted for all of the key operations involved in constructing and operating a commercial scale FOW project. Hazard Identification (HAZID) workshops were undertaken with key industry stakeholders and companies, to ensure the approach was validated and allow feedback to be taken into account.

The three key operational areas of onshore, offshore and operations & maintenance (O&M) were considered in the HAZIDs, in addition to the novelty or differences of floating offshore wind compared to fixed-bottom offshore wind.

The HAZID analysis uncovered a number of key takeaways:

  • The infrastructure needed to support larger components (i.e. 15+ MW platforms) will bring a unique set of technical and logistical challenges for onshore operations.
  • In emerging markets, FOW projects face the challenges of differing jurisdictions, inexperienced supply chains and personnel without the required skills and training; and
  • The markets with existing offshore wind and oil & gas experience will be able to leverage this expertise. However, gaps have been identified in the capability and regulatory frameworks from both oil & gas and offshore wind

The plan is to publish the outputs in Q3 2022.