This 2-day Masterclass focuses on revealing the complexity of optimising wind farm locations and array layout design with many competing interests to consider. It will cover broad spatial marine management challenges, including environmental safeguards, marine protected areas, fishing interactions and offshore energy production, as well as the challenging trade-offs.
This course offers unique access to interactive visualisation tools that allow data sets to be represented in a spatial framework for analysis of fine-scale logistical issues concerning area optimisation. Participants will engage in practical activities in the National Decommissioning Centre’s Marine Simulator, and through realworld case studies, such as manoeuvring vessels around wind farms, mooring line inspections and fishing operations within wind farm constraints, participants will gain valuable insight into the related complexities.
Drawing on expertise from 10 UK universities, the Supergen ORE Hub is in a unique position to offer the opportunity to learn directly from the UK’s foremost specialists in offshore renewable energy at world-leading facilities. To book your place on this Masterclass we encourage you to register early as places are limited. This Masterclass is scheduled to run a second time in 2027.
| Topics covered |
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| Complexity of optimising wind farm locations and array layout design |
| Spatial marine management challenges |
| Overview of fishing operations & entanglement risks |
| Logistical issues concerning area optimisation |
| Decision making and visualisation of offshore operations. |
| Case Study: Manoeuvring vessels around wind farms |
| Case Study: Mooring line inspections |
| Case Study: Fishing operations with multiple gear designs within wind farm constraints |
| Case Study: Windfarm layout design challenge |
| Demonstrations and visits |
|---|
| NDC Marine Simulator background & demonstration |
| Hands on activities – Marine Simulator |
|---|
| Towing of floating anchors, port operation, installation etc. |
| Maintenance of floating wind turbine, crew transfer |
| Offshore recharging of electric CTV vessels |
| Maintenance of tidal turbine, ROV operation |