Offshore wind metocean studies are crucial for successful project development, encompassing a wide range of interconnected factors. Accurate wind resource assessment is paramount, involving detailed analysis of wind speed, direction, shear, turbulence intensity, and extreme wind events like hurricanes and typhoons. Wave characteristics, including significant wave height, wave period, wave direction, and extreme wave heights, are essential for structural design and safe operations. Currents, both surface and subsurface, driven by tides, wind, and density gradients, impact turbine foundations, cable routing, and vessel operations. Water depth, bathymetry, and seabed morphology influence foundation selection and installation. Sea state conditions, including swell, sea, and chop, affect accessibility and workability during construction, operation, and maintenance. Marine growth, biofouling, and corrosion rates are critical considerations for long-term structural integrity. Ice loading, if applicable, requires specific metocean data and analysis. Visibility, including fog, haze, and precipitation, impacts navigation and safety. Air temperature, humidity, and icing conditions are important for turbine performance and maintenance. Storm surge, coastal erosion, and sediment transport are relevant for nearshore projects. Met data buoys, LiDAR systems, and satellite imagery provide valuable data for model calibration and validation. Numerical modeling, including wave models, current models, and wind models, is used to predict metocean conditions. Statistical analysis, including extreme value analysis and return period estimation, is crucial for design and risk assessment. Geophysical surveys, including seismic surveys and geotechnical investigations, provide information about the seabed. Environmental impact assessments consider the effects of metocean conditions on marine life. Operational and maintenance strategies are influenced by weather windows and accessibility. Risk management involves assessing and mitigating metocean-related hazards. Site selection considers the long-term metocean climate and its variability. Turbine design must withstand extreme wind and wave loads. Foundation design is tailored to specific soil conditions and metocean forces. Cable design must account for current and wave action. Mooring systems are designed to withstand extreme events. Vessel selection depends on sea state conditions and accessibility. Health and safety are paramount during offshore operations. Data quality and uncertainty are important considerations in metocean studies. Long-term monitoring programs provide valuable data for model improvement. Climate change impacts, including sea level rise and changes in storm intensity, are increasingly important. Met data management and sharing are essential for collaboration and data accessibility. Data assimilation techniques combine observations and model predictions. Remote sensing techniques provide wide-area metocean information. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to study local flow around structures. Hydrodynamic loading on offshore structures is calculated using metocean data. Fatigue analysis considers the effects of cyclic loading on structural integrity. Scour protection is necessary to prevent erosion around foundations. Offshore wind farm layout optimization considers wind resource and metocean conditions. Grid connection design must account for cable routing and seabed conditions. Stakeholder engagement is important for addressing concerns about metocean impacts. Regulatory requirements for metocean studies vary by jurisdiction. Best practices for metocean data collection and analysis are constantly evolving. Innovation in metocean technology is driving improvements in data quality and model accuracy. The economic viability of offshore wind projects depends on accurate metocean assessment. Sustainable development of offshore wind energy requires careful consideration of metocean factors. Offshore wind metocean, wind resource, wave characteristics, current profiles, water depth, bathymetry, seabed morphology, sea state, swell, sea, chop, marine growth, biofouling, corrosion, ice loading, visibility, air temperature, humidity, icing, storm surge, coastal erosion, sediment transport, met data buoys, LiDAR, satellite imagery, numerical modeling, wave models, current models, wind models, statistical analysis, extreme value analysis, return period, geophysical surveys, seismic surveys, geotechnical investigations, environmental impact assessment, operational and maintenance, risk management, site selection, turbine design, foundation design, cable design, mooring systems, vessel selection, health and safety, data quality, uncertainty, long-term monitoring, climate change, sea level rise, storm intensity, met data management, data assimilation, remote sensing, computational fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic loading, fatigue analysis, scour protection, offshore wind farm layout, grid connection, stakeholder engagement, regulatory requirements, best practices, innovation, economic viability, sustainable development

Offshore Wind MetOcean Training Course

Price

$1,350

Duration

1-Day

Dates

May 12, 2025

Format

Virtual (Live)

Course Status

Open

Enroll

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Offshore Wind MetOcean Training Course

The Offshore Wind MetOcean course provides an in-depth exploration of meteorology and oceanography specific to the offshore wind industry. Participants will acquire a thorough understanding of how wind, waves, currents, and other environmental factors impact offshore wind projects. This knowledge is vital for the successful planning, design, and operation of offshore wind farms, making this course essential for professionals in the field.

By attending the Offshore Wind MetOcean course, participants will gain valuable insights into the critical MetOcean aspects of offshore wind projects, enabling them to make informed decisions and contribute to the success and sustainability of offshore wind farms.

This course will take place from 9am to 4pm EST.

Course Learning Objectives:

Comprehend the significance of meteorological and oceanographic data in the planning, design, and operation of offshore wind farms, including how environmental factors impact project development
Gain knowledge of wind speed, direction, shear, turbulence intensity, and extreme wind events, and understand their implications for turbine performance and structural design
Study wave characteristics (height, period, direction), currents (surface and subsurface), water depth, bathymetry, and seabed morphology, and assess their influence on foundation selection, cable routing, and vessel operations
Learn about data collection methods such as met data buoys, LiDAR systems, and satellite imagery, as well as numerical modeling techniques for predicting MetOcean conditions
Understand the effects of MetOcean conditions on marine life, structural integrity (including marine growth, biofouling, corrosion, and ice loading), and operational strategies, including weather windows and accessibility
Understand how to incorporate MetOcean data into turbine and foundation design, cable and mooring system planning, vessel selection, and health and safety protocols, while considering regulatory requirements and best practices

Who Should Attend:

This course is designed for professionals involved in offshore wind energy projects, including oceanographers and meteorologists, researchers and academics, wind energy engineers and technicians, and data scientists. Project developers and managers, environmental and safety specialists, and government officials and policymakers will also benefit.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Understanding "Metocean"

- Discipline Overview:

A comprehensive look at the meteorology and oceanography involved in offshore wind projects.

- Turbine-Scale Analysis:

Exploring meteorological and oceanographic considerations specific to the scale of offshore wind turbines.

- Defining Boundaries: Clarifying what "Metocean" is not while highlighting the valuable role of the metocean team in project success.

Module 2: Components of a Metocean Campaign

- Measured Parameters: Identifying the critical aspects measured in a metocean campaign.

- Measurement Techniques: Understanding the methods employed to measure meteorological and oceanographic variables.

- Purpose of Measurement: Exploring the significance and relevance of metocean measurements in offshore wind projects.

Module 3: Elements of a Metocean Model

- Winds, Waves, Currents, and Water Levels Modeling: Detailing the modeling process for key metocean elements.

- Extreme Value Analysis: Capturing and analyzing data related to extreme storm events.

- Hurricane Models and Methods: An overview of some methods for capturing tropical cyclone events in metocean data.

Module 4: Metocean Analysis in Offshore Wind Applications

- Foundations Analysis: Examining metocean considerations for offshore wind foundations.

- Offshore Substations: Addressing metocean factors relevant to offshore substations.

- Cable Routes/Cable Landings: Analyzing metocean conditions along cable routes and at cable landings.

- Installation Considerations: Understanding metocean aspects during the installation phase.

Module 5: Emerging Technologies and Trends

- Innovations: Exploring new technologies influencing metocean practices in offshore wind.

- Trends: Analyzing current trends shaping the future of metocean in the offshore wind industry.

Module 6: Specialty Topics

- In-Depth Exploration: Addressing specialized topics such as scour, breaking waves, and climate change impacts.

- Interactive Q&A: Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance for potential coverage during this segment.

Course Completion Certificate: Upon completing at least 50% of the course and achieving a minimum passing score of 50% on a post-course assessment, participants will receive a course certificate valid for three years. This certificate verifies that the essential learning outcomes of the course have been met. While not mandatory, this certification is currently undergoing an accreditation process to further enhance its value, allowing it to be used for job applications, promotions, and professional license renewals, such as the PE (Professional Engineer) license.

Course Instructors:

Sarah McElman

Lead Consultant, Metocean Expert Americas

Sarah McElman is a metocean analyst with a background in spectral wave modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and scale model testing. She is the former metocean lead for Avangrid Renewables and has over 10 years of experience in offshore site assessment for fixed and floating projects in the United States, Europe, and Asia. While at Avangrid, Sarah managed metocean buoy, FLiDAR, and other measurement campaigns across the US and Europe, in addition to leading the metocean dimensions of new business, development, and operational preparedness. Prior to joining Avangrid, Sarah was a computational modeler at Deltares and MARIN.

Special topics instructor: Chan K. Jeong

Metocean Engineer | Naval Architect | Offshore Wind Specialist

Chan Jeong is a seasoned Metocean Engineer with expertise in weather data analysis, offshore wind development, and offshore structure transportation and installation (T&I). With a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from Texas A&M University, he has developed advanced weather data processing tools and forecasting models to enhance operational decision-making. His career spans roles at Shell, Fugro, and Boskalis, where he contributed to global offshore wind and oil & gas projects. Skilled in machine learning, numerical modeling, and risk management, Chan integrates cutting-edge technology into metocean and marine engineering consultancy.

The course outline is subject to change and a detailed agenda will be shared after enrollment.