Introduction - Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines - page 7

BOX 1-2

NRC Committee on Offshore Wind Energy
Turbine Structural and Operating Safety

Statement of Task

The study will provide guidance to MMS on the direction and
intent of its proposed approach to overseeing the development
and safe operation of offshore wind turbines. The study will pro-
vide findings regarding:

Task I. Standards and Practices: The applicability and ade-

quacy of existing standards and practices for the design,
fabrication, and installation of offshore wind turbines.

Task II. Role of Certified Verification Agents (CVAs): The

expected role of the CVA in identifying standards to be
used (including determining the compatibility—the
acceptability of mixing and matching—of standards
from different sources), and the expected role of the
CVA in conducting monitoring and onsite inspections
to verify compliance with the standards.

Task III. CVA Qualifications: The expected experience level,

technical skills and capabilities, and support equip-
ment and computer hardware/software needed to be
considered a qualified CVA.

The focus of the study will be limited to the safety of structural
and operational characteristics of offshore wind turbines, includ-
ing turbine design, fabrication, and installation.

can trigger or result in structural overload or failure. Chapter 3 notes how
these interactions are accounted for.
As shown in Figure 1-1, the environmental hazards associated with
the establishment and operation of offshore wind energy facilities are
covered through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.