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Floating offshore wind farms are complex infrastructures operating in one of the most demanding environments on the planet. To optimise their performance and reduce maintenance costs, the OPTiMAR project structures its research into five major activities. BISITE participates in the fourth of these, focused on secure data integration and cybersecurity.

Activity 1: System specifications and architecture

The starting point is to define precisely what will be measured, how and where. This activity, led by Tekniker with the participation of all partners, establishes the technical and functional requirements for the OPTiMAR solutions, the types of fault to be monitored in each subsystem (floating structure, tower, blades, turbine) and the communication and data processing architecture that will underpin the entire project.

Activity 2: Non-intrusive monitoring of offshore wind turbines

This activity, led by ISATI, investigates new monitoring technologies that do not require direct intervention on the components: acoustic, vibration and temperature sensors, ultrasound, LiDAR technology and computer vision embedded in drones. The aim is to detect corrosion, fatigue and wear problems in the floating structure, tower, blades and mechanical turbine components at an early stage. RIVI investigates intelligent lubrication systems; Atten2, optical sensors for lubricating oil; and Datadron, multipurpose drone-based inspection.

Activity 3: Predictive models and digital twin

Using the data captured by the monitoring systems, Activity 3, led by HI-Iberia, works on developing fault prediction algorithms and remaining useful life estimation for each subsystem. The result will be a digital twin of the installation that enables predictive maintenance strategies to be defined, annual energy production to be optimised and the park’s operational costs to be reduced.

Activity 4: Grid integration, data spaces and cybersecurity

This activity, led by IREC with BISITE’s participation, works along two parallel lines. On one hand, it studies how to integrate the generated energy into the electrical grid safely and stably, complying with grid codes and ensuring continuity of service. On the other, it investigates how to manage the data from the entire installation — from sensors through to the cloud platform — according to the highest cybersecurity standards and with full data sovereignty.

BISITE’s contribution in this activity covers the investigation of intelligent agents based on deep reinforcement learning capable of detecting and mitigating cyberattacks without prior historical data; the development of Federated Learning mechanisms for training AI models in a distributed way while respecting each plant’s data privacy; and the investigation of low-energy distributed ledger technologies to ensure the traceability and integrity of data across the energy value chain.

Activity 5: Technology validation

All the solutions developed will be validated at three progressive levels: laboratory-scale tests under controlled conditions, trials in relevant (marine) environments to evaluate sensor installation and measurement capability, and validation on Enerocean’s pilot platform. This activity, led by Enerocean, will close the project with the techno-economic indicators that demonstrate the real impact of OPTiMAR’s technologies.

More information: https://optimar.org.es