Ayesa participates in the ‘Integria’ project to extend the useful life of floating offshore wind power through AI

Researches and develops a unique digital model for managing the structural integrity of floating wind turbines.

Integria, acronym for “Research into structural INTEGRity in offshore wind using Artificial Intelligence based models”, was launched with the aim of generating an AI-based digital model to manage the structural integrity of offshore wind turbines. This project aims for all components to provide data integrated into digital models to facilitate the information needed to generate models for the detection and prevention of failures, fatigue, degradation, etc. These models are used to build decision-making algorithms for O&M and to extend the useful life of offshore wind farms.

In 2022, the floating offshore technology took a giant leap towards its commercialisation with the award of wind farm sites all over the world, which are set to achieve an installed capacity of up to 30 GW of this technology by the next decade At national level, Spain seeks to install 3 GW of offshore wind farms by 2030. This represents a major opportunity for the Basque supply chain which is already well positioned in the floating offshore wind sector at prototype level.

The Integria project poses challenges that are not present in individual prototypes; since the correct operation of the technology not only needs to be demonstrated for a specific time period, but it needs to be guaranteed throughout the lifetime of a wind farm. This is a huge technological leap, from oversizing the first prototype and demonstrating its technical feasibility, to optimising its design to prove its economic viability.

Currently, there are several models and tools for offshore O&M providing precise solutions to specific problems. In addition to their specificity, these models have other shortcomings such as the lack of: real information on failure rates; a proper market orientation; and a global view encompassing all aspects related to the different critical components and activities surrounding the operation and maintenance of a wind farm.

In short, comprehensive approaches to this issue are needed to enable a single unique model to analyse data and make decisions.

Integria aims to solve these challenges by: obtaining data-based models (AI) trained with sea operation data; designing transition parts with integrated sensor systems; collecting, storing and processing large amounts of data to feed AI models; monitoring real data and anticipating results thanks to the AI digital model; and integrating AI-based models with physics-based models.

Integria represents a unique opportunity for the Basque Country and highlights the strengths of the companies involved. It also encourages collaboration that will enable Basque industry to differentiate itself on the market. The consortium is made up of the following companies: NAUTILUS Floating Solutions, project coordinator and developer of a floating offshore platform; ALERION, specialist in wind turbine inspection using drones; COREMARINE, engineering firm specialising in monitoring offshore systems; DITREL, developer of electrical connectors for offshore platforms; ERREKA, manufacturer of smart fastening solutions; GLUAL (R&D Unit: GLUAL INNOVA), manufacturer of the wind turbine hydraulic pitch system; HINE, manufacturer of the wind turbine hydraulic pitch system; IBERMÁTICA, an Ayesa company (R&D Unit: IBERMÁTICA DE INNOVACIÓN-I3B), company specialised in data collection and analysis; INNOMAT COATINGS (Estalki Corporation XXI), experts in surface coatings; KERA-COAT, experts in ceramic surface coatings; LAULAGUN (R&D Unit: BEARINN-R&D), manufacturer of blades and yaw bearings for wind turbines; and NAVACEL, manufacturer of transition parts and large metal structures.

In addition, 5 members of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI) take part in the project. The CEIT, CIDETEC and TECNALIA technology centres, the BCAM centre and the BASQUE ENERGY CLUSTER.