Norway-based energy firm Equinor has successfully acquired a 2 GW lease area in Morro Bay for the US‘ first-ever floating offshore wind farm in December 2022.
Interestingly, the company aims to do a site investigation survey through marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity’s innovative autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), Electrek reports.
Morro Bay project details
Equinor’s Morro Bay project on the West Coast signifies the first US sale to enable a commercial-scale floating offshore wind development project.
The wind farm can generate an enormous amount of energy sufficient to supply approximately 750,000 households in the country.
As mentioned, the company partnered with Ocean Infinity to deploy AUVs for the necessary site investigation survey.
How do AUVs work?
AUVS are basically underwater robots capable of operating independently without human drivers. They can reach the sea depths that are impossible for human divers.
Companies can customize this technology with necessary features like sonar, depth sensors, and cameras, as they are remarkably modular.
Despite being autonomous, humans must still program or control them regarding the location, the time, and the matter they should survey.
Then, operators will collect the data from the AUVs as soon as they resurface from the depth of the sea.
Significance
Equinor will utilize the data collected by Ocean Infinity’s AUVs to develop and mature the layout of its Morro Bay floating offshore wind farm.
It will also aid the company in completing the Site Assessment Plan (SAP) and Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the OCS-P 0563 lease area.
“The US West Coast with its challenging deep water topography presents another excellent opportunity for Ocean Infinity to deliver the value of its multi-AUV capabilities for its clients. AUVs in scale are the perfect tool for this region providing not only great data quality advantages over towed arrays, in the water depths spanning from 974 to 1317 meters (about 4,507 feet), but also huge efficiency over wide areas.”
Shawntel Johnson, Ocean Infinity’s Director of Business Development
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Equinor and Ocean Infinity plan to launch the UAVs at the Morro Bay site in February 2024. This project will undoubtedly aid the US’ electrical grid in supporting the growing number of technologies that need power supply, from mobile gadgets to home appliances to electric vehicles.
