We are pleased to share some of BOEM’s technical studies that were completed in 2020. The information contained in these studies will help BOEM develop best management practices and regulatory guidance for the offshore renewable energy industry.
Our 2020 areas of focus include radar interference, soil-structure interactions for offshore wind turbine foundations, geo-hazards and dynamic structural modeling.
- Atlantic Radar Interference Analysis Study (April 2020). This project examined how proposed and hypothetical future offshore wind energy installations on the Atlantic coast could impact land-based radar systems, potential mitigations, and how an atmospheric phenomenon, known as “ducting,” may influence the magnitude of interference.
- Centrifuge Testing - Cyclic Loading of Suction Bucket Foundations in Undrained Sand (June 2020). This project provides experimental model test data for offshore soil conditions relevant to the U.S. East Coast to inform the design of suction bucket foundations in sandy soil subject to cyclic loading.
- Potential Earthquake, Landslide, Tsunami and Geo-Hazards for the U.S. Offshore Pacific Wind Farms (June 2020). This report provides the best current practices to address the geological hazards posing risks to components of floating offshore wind facilities located off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Hawai'i
- Additional Model Testing of Cyclic Axial Loading on Piles for Jacket Foundations (August 2020). This project presents field tests carried out on model piles embedded in sand to study the effect of cyclic loading and aging on pile capacity and stiffness. The project aims to provide a better understanding of piles used in the wind industry when they are subjected to cyclic axial loading.
The next release of technical studies will include those completed in the first half of Fiscal Year 2021.