Autonomous Surface and Subsea Systems Validate New O&M Model for Offshore Wind Farms

A collaborative pilot initiative led by wind farm owner Northland Power and marine technology specialist Subsea Europe Services has successfully demonstrated the operational viability of autonomous marine platforms for offshore wind farm operations and maintenance. The project took place in July 2023 at the Deutsche Bucht Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea.

The trial focused on integrating uncrewed and autonomous survey technologies into existing offshore operations, using a resident Service Operations Vessel (SOV) as a central deployment hub. The objective was to assess performance, reliability, and workflow compatibility of autonomous systems when operated alongside routine O&M activities.

Integrating Autonomous Systems into Live Offshore Operations

During the pilot, Subsea Europe Services deployed its Autonomous Surveyor uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for multibeam bathymetric surveys, together with the A.IKANBILIS hovering autonomous underwater vehicle (HAUV) for subsea inspections. These inspections included assessments of scour protection and marine growth around wind turbine foundations.

Both systems were launched and recovered directly from the Albert Betz SOV, which was already stationed at the wind farm for maintenance operations. This “mothership” approach enabled survey and inspection activities to be carried out without the need for additional crewed vessels.

The project confirmed that autonomous assets could be safely operated within existing offshore workflows, with launch and recovery conducted in sea states up to level three. Data acquisition met all predefined technical requirements while extending the available weather window for marine operations.

Operational Benefits and Cost Efficiency

According to Northland Power, the pilot validated that autonomous survey technologies can be seamlessly integrated into active offshore wind environments. The presence of survey equipment, additional personnel, and new operational procedures did not disrupt standard SOV activities, demonstrating the practicality of the mothership concept under real-world conditions.

Subsea Europe Services highlighted that both autonomous platforms delivered actionable survey and inspection data within timeframes comparable to conventional crewed survey vessels and work-class remotely operated vehicles. However, the autonomous approach significantly reduced operational complexity and cost.

By leveraging vessels already present at the wind farm, operators can increase the availability of high-quality marine data while minimizing mobilization expenses and dependency on specialized survey ships.

Towards Commercial Deployment

Following the successful pilot, Subsea Europe Services continues to refine and automate operational workflows based on lessons learned. Both the Autonomous Surveyor USV and A.IKANBILIS HAUV are already available for offshore wind farm projects, with full commercial readiness of a combined turnkey solution expected in early 2024.

The Deutsche Bucht Offshore Wind Farm, fully owned by Northland Power, is located approximately 95 kilometers west of Borkum within Germany’s Exclusive Economic Zone. With an installed capacity of 252 MW, the facility supplies renewable energy to roughly 300,000 people and reduces national carbon emissions by an estimated 700,000 tons annually.

A Step Forward for Offshore Wind Operations

This pilot project demonstrates how autonomous marine technologies can play a growing role in offshore wind farm lifecycle management. By improving data accessibility, increasing operational flexibility, and lowering costs, autonomous surface and subsea platforms are positioned to become integral components of future offshore wind O&M strategies.