Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 17
wind turbines
J. van der Tempel , N.F.B. Diepeveen , D.J. Cerda Salzmann
& W.E. de Vries
Department of Offshore Engineering, Delft University of Technology,
The Netherlands.
Offshore wind is the logical next step in the development of wind energy. With
higher wind speeds offshore and the fact that turbines can be placed out of sight,
offshore wind helps increase the amount of renewable energy signifi cantly. Off-
shore wind has been developed through pilot projects in the 1990s and has seen
commercial development over the last decade. This chapter shows the develop-
ment of offshore wind and then focuses on the design of support structures. It
briefl y describes all fundamental steps that need to be taken to come to a proper
support structure design, incorporating all turbine loads and the impact of waves and
soil. Furthermore, the chapter gives an overview of the different types of structures
and how they are fabricated and installed.
1 Introduction
As wind energy developed on land, the locations with a favourable wind climate
became scarce, but the demand for clean energy still grew. The solution for many
countries lies at their doorstep: offshore. Around the world, many densely pop-
ulated areas are close to the sea. Offshore, the wind blows stronger and more
constant, unhindered by obstacles. This led to the development of offshore wind
farms: turbines placed at sea.
This chapter describes the design of offshore wind turbines. Turbine design for
offshore follows the general design approach for onshore, although typical load
cases are somewhat different and the turbine needs to withstand the more severe
environment: salt. The structures on which the turbines are placed are signifi cantly
different, though. Different from their onshore counterparts but also from other
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