Offshore wind energy

Catch the wave of offshore wind & acquire a broad knowledge from a technological and multidisciplinary perspective.

Offshore wind energy has developed rapidly in Belgium & Europe. The industrial scaling is a fact and the production cost is evolving to a cost-competitive source in our energy mix. Belgium is currently the 4th country worldwide in terms of installed capacity, and the best is yet to come.

This course was conceived to offer thorough expertise and operational knowledge of all phases of offshore wind energy. Course attendees will acquire a broad and up-to-date knowledge regarding technology, financing, safety, security, ecology & boundary conditions of offshore wind farms over the entire lifespan.

The course is divided into 5 modules: after a qualitative description in the first module, module 2 provides a technological basis in the offshore wind packages. Module 3 builds further on this module and provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of offshore wind energy. The fourth module covers non-technological topics such as financing, environmental impact and mitigation and legal framework. The last module combines a prospection beyond the horizon (into current and future innovation in offshore wind) and industry cases.

After completion, course participants will have a broad offshore knowledge, both from an international perspective as from the viewpoint of the strengths of the Belgian offshore wind industry and academia.

Programme

Module 1: Basic concepts

This module provides the terminology, phases and processes of offshore wind energy, and allows the students to get acquainted with the correct terminology. After the qualitative description of the components, the project life cycle (from tendering to decommissioning) is outlined. The procedures and terminology in offshore wind installation are described. Lastly, the in-service terminology (during the Operations & Maintenance) is provided.

Concepts introduced in module 1 will be used in the other modules.

Date: 13, 20 and 27 October 2020

Module 2: Offshore wind packages

This module describes the typical offshore wind packages: wind turbine generators, balance of plant, infield and export cables, offshore substation, offshore works and installation. The working principles of the components and basic design are described under normal or static operating conditions.

To finalize this module, monitoring strategies (SCADA & CMS) for offshore wind are presented.

Date: 10, 17, 24 and 26 November, 1, 8 and 15 December 2020

Module 3: Offshore wind dynamics

This module describes the typical offshore wind packages: wind turbine generators, balance of plant, infield and export cables, offshore substation, offshore works and installation. The working principles of the components and basic design are described under normal or static operating conditions.

To finalize this module, monitoring strategies (SCADA & CMS) for offshore wind are presented.

Date: 10, 17, 24 and 26 November, 1, 8 and 15 December 2020

Module 4: Safety, energy markets, policy, maritime law

The project development requires a wide range of activities preceding the installation, such as project financing, tendering and consenting, environmental impact assessment and mitigation strategies, etc.

Furthermore offshore wind energy is developed in a context of international and federal marine spatial planning, energy law (like the grid code) and the wholesale market mechanisms.

The impact of meteorological predictions for offshore wind is outlined as well.

Date: 23 February, 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 March, 20 and 27 April 2021

Module 5: Innovation and industrial cases