ABPmer delivers for Arklow Bank Wind Park – Phase 2

ABPmer’s specialist metocean team, a regular provider of planning and development services to the offshore wind sector, is supporting SSE Renewables in the development of Phase 2 of its Arklow Bank Wind Park project, off the east coast of Ireland. SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of offshore wind energy sites, and has the largest pipeline of offshore wind projects in UK and Irish waters.

SSE Renewables requires detailed metocean information to support the design, installation and decommissioning phases of the development. ABPmer has been commissioned to prepare a preliminary Site Condition Report and manage the associated metocean survey which will then be used in conjunction with new numerical modelling to refine the preliminary results and inform a final Site Condition Report.

David Lambkin, ABPmer Project Manager, said: “We are delighted to be preparing the Site Condition Reports for the Arklow Bank Wind Park development on behalf of SSE Renewables. We regularly undertake metocean and morphological analysis for offshore windfarms but the mixture of relatively shallow water, stronger tidal currents and exposed wave climate make this a particularly interesting location to study.

“Our validated hindcast databases – SEASTATES – are the starting point for any metocean studies or parameters we provide and have been used to inform the preliminary report. As we move forward, this will be supplemented and validated with new data from a metocean survey and new high-resolution, site specific numerical modelling.”

The Site Condition Reports provide SSE Renewables with a wide range of metocean statistics, as well as a description of the seabed morphology, sediment transport patterns and a high-level assessment of scour potential. This will provide a broad and robust basis for engineering design and operational planning, which will be further refined and validated from the early planning stages through to final design.

Offshore wind energy is increasingly playing an important role in helping the world meet its energy demand, reduce greenhouse gases and improve security of supply from local sources of sustainable energy.

ABPmer’s breadth of capability supports clients throughout a project lifecycle; from site selection and feasibility through consent, design and construction phases to operation and maintenance.

Recognised authorities in modelling physical systems, with specialist knowledge of sediment mobility and coastal processes, ABPmer has provided technical input to most of the UK’s offshore wind, wave and tidal developments as well as to projects overseas.

To learn more about ABPmer’s services to the renewables sector, visit www.abpmer.co.uk/markets/renewable-energy

Pictured above: The 504MW Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm off the coast of Suffolk in the UK, co-owned by SSE and Innogy. Image © SSE Renewables; used with permission