In support of the Administration’s America First Energy Plan, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced the availability of draft guidelines for the use of a “Design Envelope” approach in construction and operations plans (COPs) for offshore wind energy facilities in the United States.
“The Outer Continental Shelf’s offshore wind potential is a tremendous asset and part of the Administration’s America First Energy Plan to make it easier for industry to do business here.” said Secretary Ryan Zinke. “And now, more than ever, we must use every tool at our disposal to ensure an energy-secure future — one that promotes jobs and is affordable, competitive, and safe. Offshore wind will play a big role in this future.”
In order to take advantage of the rapid pace of technological development within the offshore wind industry, offshore wind developers have asked BOEM to adopt this practice, which is standard in some European countries for permitting offshore wind energy projects. This would afford developers a degree of flexibility and allow them to make certain project-design decisions — such as which turbines to use — at the more commercially advantageous time later in the project-development process.
Last August, the Administration announced Executive Order 13807 to streamline the review and permitting of infrastructure projects. The design envelope approach would allow BOEM to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed project in a manner that could reduce or eliminate the need for subsequent environmental and technical reviews without sacrificing appropriate environmental safeguards.
“The offshore wind industry is moving at a phenomenal pace, and I’m proud to announce that this Administration is working with industry and stakeholders to make the renewable energy development process quicker, cheaper, and more competitive with the rest of the world,” said Counselor for Energy Policy Vincent DeVito.
It is important to note that when describing a proposed wind facility, the use of a design envelope is not mandatory. Design envelopes are intended to be an optional tool for prospective developers.
BOEM welcomes input from industry and other interested stakeholders before finalizing this guidance.
Wind turbines continue to provide alternatives to conventional energy production. These mammoth structures offer challenges to the worker who has to navigate at great height while transporting tools and equipment.
Some, not all, are equipped with a wind-turbine tower elevator affording a safer option than climbing hundreds of feet to get to work.
Like a family car, home, or any machine, these elevators need to be maintained in order to provide reliable safe vertical transportation. Properly working, the benefits include safety, reduction in ergonomic risk, and increased work efficiency reducing cost. A wind farm can have dozens of turbines and those with elevators can improve employee retention by a reduction in the physical challenges.
A wind farm can have dozens of turbines and those with elevators can improve employee retention by a reduction in the physical challenges. (Photos courtesy: EIWPF)
“By using the licensed National Elevator Industry Education Program (NEIEP) mechanics to service the elevators in wind turbines, they will run more efficiently and reduce risk of injury to those accessing the Nacelle” said Carisa Barrett, national coordinator with the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF).
Who is the EIWPF?
EIWPF is a Labor Management Cooperation Committee. One of EIWPF’s specific goals within the wind industry focuses on safety.
“We have several programs within the EIWPF, and our main concern is safety of those riding and working on all conveyances,” she said. “We have OSHA master instructors who train the trainer for NEIEP apprenticeship instructors. We sit on many industry-related code committees ensuring safety for the elevator constructors who work on the elevators, the wind techs that use the elevators, as well as any others riding the elevators.”
Different elevators, different standards
“EIWPF’s reach spans the entire elevator industry; there are hundreds of different standards for different types of elevators” Barrett said. “For elevators in wind turbines, it would be ASME A17.8 standard for wind-turbine tower elevators that has recently been created. We sit on committees that write these codes. Our committee participation is there to improve safety for all who work on or ride elevators. I sit on the A17.8 committee. I also sit on the wind standards committee within AWEA, as well as the Operations and Maintenance Working group specifically under the sub group ‘towers,’ which encompasses the wind-tower elevators.”
IUEC mechanics work on an Alamak elevator car top.
Best practices
One of the O&M working groups responsibilities is to publish the Operation and Maintenance Recommended Practices Manual, which is updated every year,” according to Barrett. Members of AWEA can find this manual on the AWEA website.
“You can find the chapter on elevators in wind turbines on page 404 of the manual,” she said. “There you will find the codes associated with wind-turbine elevators and where you can get these code books.”
“The adoption of these national codes and standards can change from municipality to municipality or, from state to state, according to Barrett
“Thirty-two states have adopted some form of elevator rules,” she said. “So, in 32 states, most likely, you’re going to have to use a licensed elevator mechanic.”
Barrett said that she has seen a big increase in the wind industry using IUEC signatory elevator companies to work on, and do compliance inspections on wind-turbine elevators.
Cynthia Cuenin, who founded Tempest Group, Inc. in 2013 and is signatory to the IUEC, told Barrett that between 2013 and 2017, she had triple-digit increases. 2018 is still trending straight up for Tempest Group.
“The EIWPF participating companies represent over 450 elevator companies throughout North America, Barrett said. “We have companies in every state and major city that can professionally keep your elevators safe and reliable. There are over 27,000 members in the United States and Canada who work for these 450 companies. So there’s no shortage of manpower.”
Eagle Elevator wind-turbine elevator installed at Block Island Offshore Project.
Importance of training
There’s a reason why properly trained elevator mechanics are important, according to Barrett.
“By having NEIEP trained elevator mechanics working on your equipment, you know it’s going to be maintained properly and working safely and efficiently because that’s what our elevator constructors do,” she said.
Those mechanics have completed a four-year apprenticeship-training program requiring eight semesters of classroom instruction along with 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, as well as a cumulative mechanics exam to graduate, according to Barrett.
“Our mechanics aren’t done with their education though,” Barrett said. “NEIEP offers a growing variety of ‘continuing education’ courses that they use to assist in staying up on the ever-changing conveyance world.”
With the expansion of clean wind energy, EIWPF’s signatory companies stand ready and able to fill the need for trained professional workforce, according to Barrett.
“We are here to assist the wind industry with elevator contractors that have a highly educated and motivated work force for all of your vertical transportation needs,” she said.
