Lloyd’s Register’s consulting business will be working with Denmark’s transmission system operator, Energinet.dk, to measure underwater sound propagation for the Horns Rev 3 wind-farm substation development. The collaboration provides a critical approach on how to control noise transmission at sea, and will help safeguard marine life and ensure a sustainable project delivery.
The 400-MW Horns Rev 3 wind farm off the west coast of Denmark is expected to generate green power for some 450,000 households when fully operational. The project will contribute to the EU goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 — a key factor in the recent COP 21.
The 400-MW Horns Rev 3 wind farm, situated off the west coast of Denmark, is expected to generate clean power for some 450,000 households.
Energinet.dk will take on installation of the substation for guiding the electricity into the onshore grid. The substation, scheduled for installation later in 2016, will be positioned on a four-legged jacket put in place by pile driving. This activity generates noise levels that potentially could have a negative impact on marine life, so experts from Lloyd’s Register’s integrity, compliance, and specialist risk consulting services group will undertake a pre-construction investigation and determine the site-specific underwater sound propagation for the substation.
“We are proud to be playing a part in the Horns Rev 3 project, which ties in seamlessly with our commitment to support the development of renewable energy as part of a growing energy mix,” said Per Trøjgård Andersen, Technical Lead at Lloyd’s Register’s Consulting business. “While offshore wind power is indeed an appealing technology for renewable energy, it is also essential that construction and operation of these wind farms respect the fragile marine environment. This is where we can apply our unique expertise in underwater noise.”
The company’s consulting business will dispatch highly experienced acousticians to determine the site-specific sound propagation. The team plans to deploy an airgun to trace an acoustic signal in proximity of the wind farm to determine the sound propagation.
Energinet.dk will then integrate the captured data in the project execution, making sure that the noise impacting on the nearby marine environment is considered and that mitigation measures are put in place should this be needed.
Lloyd’s Register’s investigation will adhere to the guidelines recently implemented by the Danish Energy Agency for Horns Rev 3 addressing the underwater noise impact from construction of offshore wind farms. The first turbines at Horns Rev 3 are expected to be connected in 2017.
Lloyd’s Register
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Filed Under: News, Offshore wind
