Offshore Renewable Energy
Harnessing Nature’s Energy for a Sustainable Future
Offshore Wind, Wave, Tidal and Ocean Thermal Energy, collectively known as Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE), have the potential to deliver limitless amounts of clean energy to fulfill the electrical needs of coastal and inland communities, as well as generate useful green byproducts.
With exponential growth forecasted, over 400% globally between 2022 and 2030 for offshore wind power alone, specialist offshore engineering and environmental expertise is needed to support these developments in challenging and sensitive marine environments.
Lally LLC’s engineers and scientists are equipped to work across the Offshore Renewable Energy supply chain to contribute to development of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods to expand boundaries for installation, O&M, and decommissioning. With over three decades of experience, we are particularly adept in innovative dredging and placement technologies and techniques, port and harbor engineering, and shallow-water and landfall studies.
From strategically sited offices along the coastlines of the North Sea, U.S. Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean, Lally LLC offers specialist experience and resources to assist the ORE sector as it evolves internationally. Our engineers have been trained in offshore hydromechanics, motions and loading of structures in waves, energy technologies and storage, advanced dredging techniques, risk management, Building with Nature ®, and numerous related areas, to assist development of safe and reliable offshore energy technologies and projects with particular attention on minimizing environment impacts.
Specifically, we have expertise and capabilities in;
- Ocean Waves
- Offshore and Coastal Site Assessment
- Offshore Wind Farm Design, Layout & Turbine Selection
- Energy Conversion Estimates for Wave, Tidal, and Ocean Thermal Energy
- Technology Solutions to Minimize CO2 Footprint
- Carbon Capture Storage
- Constraints and Life Cycle Analysis
- Project Uncertainties and Risk Management
- Environmental Load Analysis
- Offshore Geotechnical Engineering
- Hydrographic and Geophysical Surveys
- MetOcean Data Acquisition and Analysis
- Hydrodynamic Modeling
- Scour Protection Design and Installation
- Installation and Maintenance Logistics
- Project Management
- Construction Oversight
- Environmental Impacts and Monitoring
- Underwater Inspection / ROV Operations
For long-term structure integrity, operational efficiency and safety, marine renewable energy studies rely on high-quality meteorological and oceanographic (MetOcean) data to account for daily and extreme conditions.
Lally LLC offers worldwide MetOcean data acquisition and analysis services, including wave climate and statistics data in over 100 marine regions, typically based on over a century of hindcast observations. The data is validated and enhanced using NOAA, NMIMET and other climate prediction programs, for reliable long-term wave statistics.
Whether across large offshore blocks or at specific sites, we can provide average or detailed climate statistics including wind, wave and current data for specified recurrence intervals, through a range of international and regional sources. Depending where in the world the study area is located, we can offer products including;
- Wind Data. Wind Speed and Direction
- Wave Data. Wave Height, Period and Direction (Swell, Wind-wave, and Combined)
- 2D Wave Spectra, Multiple presentations
- Wind Roses
- Currents
- Water Levels
Data packages can be provided gridded for spatial analysis, time-series, and as statistics.
For graphical simulations of critical offshore installations, landfall corridors, ports & harbors, and estuarine locations under various forcing conditions, Lally LLC employs 2D and 3D hydrodynamic models, calibrated and validated using site-specific measurements.
The nearshore components of offshore renewable projects, for subsea power connections and/or support activities, require special attention with an entirely different set of physical processes, construction methods, environmental considerations and stakeholders.
Lally LLC can help our clients succeed in these aspects with expertise in;
- Landfall Alternatives Evaluation and Design
- CAPEX / OPEX Estimates and Analysis
- Hydrographic Surveys, Volumes Analysis and Mapping
- Geophysical, Utilities and Debris Surveys, Analysis and Mapping
- Setup, Maintain and Manage Project Geospatial Data
- Shore Approach Design
- Overburden Dredging Design and Volumes
- Capping and Armoring
- Shallow Water Equipment Development
- Shallow Water Marine Construction
- Federal, Municipal and Local Permitting
- Environmental Monitoring and Permit Compliance
- Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
- Seagrass and Habitat Mapping
- Site Restoration
Applying three decades of port master planning, waterway engineering and marine construction experience, including numerous site reconnaissance, staging and mobilization assignments, Lally LLC offers the offshore renewables sector worldwide harbor development assistance.
With specific criteria and values dependent on project type and location, the parameters we know to be important to supporting ORE installation, O&M and decommissioning projects include;
- Proximity to the Offshore Site
- Sheltering and Isolation
- Navigation Channel Depth
- Quay Length and Berth Depth
- Horizontal and Vertical Clearances
- Lay down and Assembly Areas
- Geotechnical Conditions to Support Large Cranes
- Warehousing and Office Facilities
- Support Services
Dredging is commonly employed in the offshore renewables sector to prepare the seabed for bottom founded structures (i.e. monopile, jackets) or mooring anchors. Whether for seabed levelling or overburden (i.e. rock, silt) removal, Lally LLC can assess and develop dredge plans for outcomes that save costs and protect the environment.
As former employees of leading North American and European dredging and marine contractors, Lally LLC engineers have technical and management experience with a range of specialty hydraulic and mechanical dredge types and develops and advances new technologies in the field of precision dredging and capping. We have several initiatives underway in these areas related to Offshore Renewables and are interested to collaborate with new partners.
On a recent complex dredging and capping project contracted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 1 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – New England District, Lally LLC developed and oversaw new dredging and capping strategies and technical approaches that ultimately saved the project over $100 million USD and two construction seasons. Several aspects of ORE projects have similar opportunities for savings.
We work efficiently on projects as Owner’s representative, specialist team member, or 3rd party advisor to manage risks, achieve optimal performance in key operations, and identify solutions for project technical, contractual and regulatory challenges.
Specific Dredging-related experience Lally LLC makes available to the Offshore Renewable Energy sector includes;
- Worldwide ORE Site Conditions Assessment
- Due Diligence and Risk Mitigation
- Geotechnical Testing and Analysis
- Dredge Plan Development
- Dredge Equipment Selection
- Disposal Site Planning
- Scour Protection
- Early Contractor Involvement
- Permit Acquisition and Compliance
- Dredge Technology Design
- Production Estimating
- Cost Estimating
- Partnering and Subcontracting
- Project Management
- Construction Oversight
- Pre-, Progress and Post-Dredge Surveys
- Dispute Resolution / Expert Services
Navigating the regulatory process to acquire and comply with environmental permits can be one of the more challenging components of Offshore Renewable Energy projects. Lally LLC has successfully acquired federal, state and municipal permits for our clients’ marine infrastructure and dredging projects through comprehensive understanding of site environmental conditions and stakeholder requirements, and innovative designs and construction methods to optimize performance for the Owner. Responsive communications with regulators and stakeholders, global experience with nature-based solutions, and contractor know-how working in varied marine environments, have also served to facilitate successful permit acquisition and compliance on our projects.
Lally LLC has experience working with the following agencies in the acquisition and administration of project permits in the marine environment.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), formerly U.S. Minerals Management Service (USMMS)
- NOAA – National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- CARICOM Ministries of the Environment
- State and Local Environmental Agencies
- Coastal Protection and Restoration Authorities
- County and City Shoreline Master Programs
- Tribes and First Nations
Specific examples of Lally LLC permitting experience offered to the Offshore Renewables sector include;
- Regulatory Scoping and Strategy
- Permit Applications and Drawings
- Section 10/404 Rivers and Harbor Act and Clean Water Act
- Section 401 Water Quality Certification
- Section 7 Endangered Species Act
- Baseline Studies
- Biological Evaluations
- Dredged Material Management Programs
- USEPA Ocean Dumping Act (MPRSA)
- Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
- Regulatory Agency Negotiations
- Formulate Mitigation Agreements
- Formulate Monitoring Programs
- Turbidity, TSS, and Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring
- Plume and Sedimentation Monitoring
- Fish and Habitat Monitoring
- Marine Mammal Monitoring
- Sound Monitoring
- Seine Surveys and Fish Counts
- Pre-, Progress- and Post-Dredge Surveys
- Post-Construction Monitoring
- Project Reporting
