OMNI Features｜Fugro to Provide Year-Long LiDAR Survey for Ørsted's Gippsland Offshore Wind Farm in Australia．NSK to Launch Wind Turbine Fault Detection Service in Japan This Year．Concerns Over Non-Transparent EIA for South Korea's Large-scale Ulsan Offshore Wind Farm Project

｜Fugro to Provide Year-Long LiDAR Survey for Ørsted’s Gippsland Offshore Wind Farm in Australia
Ørsted has teamed up with Dutch geodata specialist Fugro for a one-year floating LiDAR survey at the Gippsland Offshore Wind Farm in Australia. Ørsted is among the first companies to secure a feasibility license for the Gippsland offshore wind project. Fugro's SEAWATCH Wind LiDAR Buoy will measure wind speed, wave height, ocean currents, and meteorological data to provide essential information for assessing the site's feasibility.

Collected met-ocean data will be transmitted in real-time and submitted to Ørsted in monthly reports, helping the company gain early insights into site conditions.

｜NSK to Launch Wind Turbine Fault Detection Service in Japan This Year
NSK will launch a wind turbine failure detection service in 2024, aiming to counter decreasing demand for wind turbine bearings. Although traditionally focused on automotive and industrial machinery bearings, the company has partnered with a European firm to enter this new field, leveraging AI to predict maintenance needs and reduce downtime.

The detection service uses multiple sensors within the turbine's nacelle, analyzing rotation speed and vibrations to detect degradation. By predicting failures, NSK aims to transition from reactive to proactive maintenance, which will reduce costs and improve operational efficiency, according to NSK's Industrial Marketing Division.

In 2021, NSK acquired Germany's BKV to enhance its monitoring technology. Initially, it will sell this service alongside new bearings in 2024, with plans to offer it independently in the future. With offshore turbines growing, NSK's expansion into failure detection positions it to meet increasing demand for cost-effective maintenance solutions.

｜Concerns Over Non-Transparent EIA for South Korea's Large-scale Ulsan Offshore Wind Farm Project
South Korea is developing a large-scale offshore wind farm along the East Sea near Ulsan and Gyeongsangbuk-do, with an investment of KRW 37 trillion and an offshore area of 1,000 square kilometers, surpassing the size of Seoul. However, widespread public concern surrounds the potential adverse effects on fisheries and marine ecosystems. The Environmental Ministry's non-transparent environmental impact assessment process has further fueled controversy.

The project could harm marine mammals such as dolphins and whales, especially during the seabed excavation required for submarine cable installation, posing a serious threat to fisheries. Although there are significant concerns, details regarding mitigation measures have not been disclosed, prompting increased public scrutiny.

Reference: offshorewind.biz｜nikkei｜ynenews