Offshore wind faces growing O&M challenges

Large turbines offer potential benefits but also significant challenges according to the report.

Offshore wind projects face mounting operational and maintenance challenges (O&M) as turbines get bigger and fleets age, according to Shoreline Wind.

In a new report entitled “How Robust O&M Plans Boost the Profitability of Offshore Wind Farms,” Shoreline Wind said turbine sizes have increased from two megawatts (MW) to potential 20 MW+ that threaten profitability, efficiency, and safety.

Michael Bjerrum, chief commercial officer and co-founder at Shoreline Wind, said these may have increased energy production and reduced costs, but they also introduced new risks. 

“A single failure in these larger turbines can lead to significant downtime and financial loss, an issue already seen in onshore, and now emerging offshore,” he said.

Aside from larger turbines, the report said that ageing wind farms need repowering or innovative O&M to remain viable and profitable.

These dual challenges call the need to review and update offshore O&M strategies, Bjerrum said.

Shoreline Wind is pushing for early and proactive O&M planning that begins even before a wind farm is fully commissioned. 

“As the scale of offshore projects increases, there is a growing overlap between construction and operations activities, making early O&M planning essential to avoid costly delays and ensure a smooth transition from construction to full operation,” Shoreline Wind said.

The study also emphasised adapting O&M to regional nuances as new markets emerge and older assets pose challenges.