Offshore Weathering Campaign on a North Sea Wind Farm Part One: Corrosivity Categories

The aim of this study is to investigate the corrosion behavior of materials and coatings in offshore environments, with a focus on determining the corrosivity categories at different locations on wind turbines. The collaboration between the authors enabled a 3-year weathering campaign at the Hohe See and Albatros offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Metal panels were installed on two wind turbines to assess the corrosivity of different atmospheric conditions. Preliminary results indicate significant variations in corrosivity depending on location and material used, suggesting that current standards may not fully reflect real-world conditions. The results of the study will help to optimize material selection and corrosion protection strategies for offshore wind farms, potentially extending their lifetime and reducing operating costs.