Review of design conditions applicable to offshore wind energy systems in the United States

Offshore wind turbines are now being considered for use in the United States. Ensuring proper design of offshore wind turbines and wind farms requires knowledge of the external conditions in which the turbines and associated facilities are to operate. The primary external conditions are due to the wind and waves. Also, for many locations, floating ice will also be a major factor in the design. This review examines the following aspects of external conditions for the design of offshore wind turbines for the United States: (1) design requirements, (2) available offshore data sources, (3) data estimation and extrapolation techniques, (4) on-site data collection, and (5) likely sources of extreme events, including hurricanes and northeast storms.