From data sharing to new innovations, the RPS metocean team has built on their previous Floating LiDAR buoy project in the Netherlands and is looking to the offshore wind industry’s future.

Following successful deployment of four LiDAR buoys earlier this year, RPS has recently been selected for a second project for the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Three additional buoys will now be mobilised to measure offshore wind data (including energy potential) and metocean conditions at Doordewind Wind Farm Zone offshore Netherlands.

The company's first project for RVO, which started in early 2022, has achieved on-time delivery and deployment, and safe operations with no incidents, with over 95% data return. 

Putting down roots in the Netherlands

A key development for the RPS team has been establishing and growing our European metocean capability with a local base in Den Helder – located in the new ‘Blue Port Centre’, a site being redeveloped to support the Netherlands’ renewable energy transition. Here, the company have built good relationships with a supportive maritime community that includes the Port Authority, Den Helder support services and the local community, receiving excellent support for their most recent bid. The RPS team has also grown to include six dedicated metocean specialists employed in the UK, who are all highly skilled and experienced in this field.

A technological innovation and new data-sharing

The RPS’ Floating LiDAR buoy is known for reliability and accuracy, which is down to a number of innovative features. These include real-time sensor monitoring, and redundancy features for both power and communications. In addition, the buoy runs off renewable energy and features a custom mooring design that avoids entanglement risk to wildlife while enabling accurate wave measurement.

For their recent Dutch projects, RPS have also brought in a new capability. As a recipient of public funding, their client was keen to make project data publicly available. Via RPS' OceansMonitor Web platform, visitors can now see the location of the buoys, and view a wide range of metocean and wind data (including barometric pressure, wind speed, wave height, and current speed and direction). The data is returned in real-time with almost 100% coverage, providing a high degree of accuracy and detail for use in planning other offshore projects.

Another innovation is monitoring waves via satellite GPS GNSS sensors and accelerometers. A high precision GPS sensor is used to measure tides. The alternative to this is pressure sensor gauges placed on the seabed and anchored with the buoy mooring, but the data these collect can’t be checked until they are retrieved – usually at the end of the deployment. Instead, RPS has installed new technology, adding to the buoy’s real-time data delivery capabilities. RPS is one of the first to integrate this feature – with the added benefit of lower power consumption – for the Dutch deployments. For those with ESG in mind, this feature needs less instrumentation and no need for battery packs. This technology has the added advantage of a more sophisticated battery management where we can remotely monitor individual cells to ensure improved reliability. (RPS has moved away from traditional lead acid batteries to more sustainable lithium rechargeable batteries with the company's new LiDAR model).

Remote operation capabilities like this are becoming increasingly popular with developers who wish to improve safety and cut their carbon footprint by reducing the need for operatives and vessels in the field. Real-time data delivery speeds up and increases access to study area data, while our ability to remotely reconfigure buoy systems can also reduce the need for site visits and repair work.

For more information about RPS' Floating LiDAR buoy projects in the Netherlands, contact Anthony Gaffney.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: RPS Energy