§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research the Government are conducting into underwater tractors used to plant wind farms off the Dutch coast. [16726]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Department's wind R&D programme has offshore wind as a key priority, and specifically:
the development and evaluation of improved offshore installation techniques and vessels.
To date no proposals have been put forward to evaluate the concept of installing offshore wind turbines using tractors or other devices that have the capability to drive along the seabed rather than using surface vessels. Consequently there has been no research on the programme in this area. The opportunity for industry to conduct research in this area remains.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department is conducting into the problems of off-shore wind turbines, with particular reference to fatigue caused by waves and wind vibrating the structure in rough weather. [16724]
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§ Mr. WilsonThe Department is currently supporting a project addressing this area. It is monitoring the loads, waves and wind on the UK's first offshore wind turbines at Blyth. It will provide the data and analysis to improve our understanding of the design loads and assumptions that should be used in these more severe offshore conditions, especially the treatment of combined wave and wind loading for both fatigue and extreme loads.
The objectives of the project are:
to establish and then analyse a database of measurements for validation and enhancement of advanced methods for computer modelling and design analysis of offshore wind turbines.to provide a critical appraisal of present design procedures and certification rules for offshore wind turbines and to recommend changes where appropriate.to catalogue the key design requirements of offshore wind turbines for sites where the environmental conditions are severe.The project is due for completion in 2003, but papers on the interim results are expected in advance of this.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research is being conducted by her Department into designing a lattice tower that can change its stiffness and resonant frequency by causing hydraulic pistons to control the rigidity of the diagonal cross bars for off-shore wind turbines. [16734]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Department's wind R&D programme attaches priority to offshore wind and specifically to the following aspects of offshore wind R&D projects
the development and evaluation of innovative UK wind turbine components, offering improved performance;the development and evaluation of innovative wind turbine designs offering improved performance.To date no proposals have been put forward to design a lattice tower that can change its stiffness and resonant frequency by causing hydraulic pistons to control the rigidity of the diagonal cross bars for off-shore wind turbines. Consequently there has been no research on the programme in this area.