The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the extension of the Offshore Megastructures collaborative research centre, which is led by Leibniz University Hannover (LUH). This means the project will now move into the second funding period. LUH president Prof. Dr. Volker Epping said of the extension: “I am very pleased about the extension of our collaborative research centre, and I thank all those involved for their strong commitment and outstanding work over the last few years. Once again, we can see the contribution that science is making to the success of the energy transition, in this case specifically through concepts for the offshore wind turbines of the future. The continuation of the collaborative research centre is a significant success for Leibniz University Hannover and demonstrates the excellent performance of our scientists in the area of energy research.”
The collaborative research centre (CRC) Offshore Megastructures is developing new concepts for tomorrow’s offshore wind turbines. The centre intends to make a significant contribution towards ensuring a successful energy transition. The turbines of the future will be significantly larger than today’s, with an overall height and rotor blade diameter of far more than 300 metres. These turbines will be affected by little-known variables, such as the wind conditions prevailing in heights exceeding 100 metres. Due to the turbines’ dimensions and the delicate construction required, environmental conditions as well as interactions between individual components will become more relevant. Established methods for designing and operating wind turbines cannot be applied to constructions of this size. The CRC focuses on the physical and methodological foundations, based on the concept of a digital twin. It is developing simulation models that describe individual turbines over their entire working life and can be adapted in accordance with the conditions at any given time.
Results from the first funding period
The advances made during the first funding period convinced the DFG to continue funding the CRC. Among other things, the researchers have so far provided an initial digital twin which takes into account the associated loads – the impacts of air, wave and current forces, as well as the interaction with the ocean floor – which megastructures in the ocean are exposed to. In doing so, they have made significant progress towards the real-time capability of the non-linear model. They have also developed new methods for the early recognition of damage. These are based on machine-learning algorithms that are enhanced by physics-based knowledge.
Examples of the results to date also include the development of a new concept for ultra-thin rotor blades for megastructures, which allow significantly more energy to be generated even at low wind speeds. “This has enabled us to make a significant contribution to more consistent energy generation from renewable energy sources,” said CRC speaker Prof. Dr. Raimund Rolfes of LUH. The CRC team has made other significant advances in the realistic description of the wave and wind loads, the development of optimum support structures and their permanent anchoring in the seabed, and efficient installation.
Plans for the second funding period
In the second funding period, the focus will primarily be the validation and verification of new methods. In addition to other locations, the research will be carried out at the Coastal Research Centre’s Large Wave Flume (GWK+) in Hannover, which was expanded during the first funding period and is one of a kind in the world. Measurements will also be taken at a new onshore research wind park and an offshore wind park.
Background information
Led by Leibniz University Hannover, the collaborative research centre 1463 “Integrated design and operating methodology for offshore megastructures” – or Offshore Megastructures – comprises five research facilities. In addition to LUH, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, the German Aerospace Center and the Technical Universities of Dresden and Darmstadt are participating in the project. At LUH, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodetic Science, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics are involved. Most of the participating institutes at Leibniz University Hannover and Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg already conduct joint research within the scope of the research collaboration ForWind. The CRC received approximately 8.5 million euros in funding from 2021 to 2024. The second funding period will run from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028. An additional extension until 2032 is possible.
Note to editors
For further information, please contact CRC speaker Prof. Dr.-Ing. Raimund Rolfes, Leibniz University Hannover Institute of Structural Analysis (tel: +49 511 762 2992; email: r.rolfes@isd.uni-hannover.de).
