Abstract
Structures and devices for offshore energy generation are typically unmanned and located some distance from shore. This presents a challenge when it comes to keep track of the conditions of your assets and their energy generation capacity. Therefore, a lot of remote monitoring tools have been installed in for example offshore wind turbines (i.e. sensors that allow monitoring the structure without the need to send personnel offshore). Until now, monitoring has mainly focused on monitoring of structural aspects and the energy generation capacity. However, tools also exist or are being developed for monitoring of parameters related to corrosion, which also presents a threat to the structural integrity, especially in aggressive offshore conditions.
Corrosion monitoring is currently not yet implemented by default and many questions remain as to the available technology, but also the potential gains of implementing corrosion monitoring. Within the framework of the OPIN project, a Collaborative Innovation Group (CIG) on Corrosion Monitoring was established. The CIG consists of a consortium of companies and research institutes that want to bring together the knowledge and experiences available within this consortium on the topic of Corrosion Monitoring of steel structures for Offshore Renewable Energy generation. The available knowledge and experience will be compared to needs and expectations and potential technology and knowledge gaps identified.
This report does not aim to be a comprehensive, international state-of-the-art review. It is rather a review of the information available within the consortium, extended with the results from a public questionnaire to obtain better insight in the needs and expectations from the sector, and finally identify opportunities for further R&D into this topic.