www.abb.com WIND POWER 11 www.power-mag.com Issue 3 2023 Power Electronics Europe forms of energy generation and distribution, such as hydrogen production, storage and transmission projects. This makes it well placed to advise operators on how to supplement generation networks using alternative power sources that are powered by offshore wind. The same advances in digital maintenance technologies can also be used to help deliver remote service and support. This can range from digital simulation through to augmented reality tools that can be used by engineers to remotely guide colleagues on site to resolve problems. The growing convergence between information (IT) and operational (OT) technologies allows new opportunities for collaboration. The huge variety of data from equipment, processes, plants and business systems can be integrated and shared between the different parties involved in building, running and maintaining offshore wind farms. By sharing information about operational status and asset performance, including analysing varying performance between different wind assets and wind farms, allows better decision-making within the operating company. Sharing performance information among the vendors in the wind generator industry also allows new equipment and techniques to be developed that can benefit everyone. Maximising potential The growing need for affordable low carbon technologies will see all forms of renewable power being used to supplement and eventually replace fossilfuel based power generation. The potential of offshore wind as an effective power source has increasingly been recognised as technology has advanced and ways have been found to tackle issues such as variability and intermittency. As the industry addresses issues through continued developments in electrical system design, offshore wind will increasingly take its place as a major enabler of the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable power. Figure 3: Improvements in offshore turbine design, in relation to size and efficiency and the availability of floating designs, enable wind farms to be situated further offshore to take advantage of higher quality wind conditions. Direct
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