The company, through its UK offshore arm Scottish Power, will develop the Support of Maritime Operations in Offshore Windfarms (SUMO) project with aerospace firm Elecnor Demos with the help of the European Space Agency.
The project will integrate diagnostic and ocean weather forecasting tools, using products and services developed within the aerospace industry to improve offshore wind practices. These applications will include the use of high-resolution satellite imagery and methods for geo-locating people and objects.
The system is expected to address the entire offshore wind farm development process as it will be possible to use the system while facilities are being constructed as well as in their subsequent operation and maintenance.
All information obtained through the new system will be shared through an online interface, Iberdrola said.
The initiative is to be undertaken with the support of the UK's Technology Strategy Board and the European Space Agency, whose involvement falls within the framework of the ARTES 20 demonstration programme which promotes the use of technologies and products originally developed for the aerospace industry in other sectors.
The ultimate goal of the project is to allow Iberdrola to use this new system at one of the offshore wind farms commissioned by the company "in the next few years".
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