Apparatus and method for operation of an off-shore wind turbine

A method for operating an off-shore wind turbine, the wind turbine being at least temporarily situated in water and comprising a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade, the pitch drive system being configured to pitch the at least one rotor blade, said method comprising:

• a) determining at least one of a water current speed, a water current direction and a water level at or close to the wind turbine;
• and
• b) controlling the wind turbine dependent on said at least one of the water current speed, the water current direction and the water level,
• wherein the off-shore wind turbine includes a rated value of a peak shaver parameter, and
• wherein controlling the wind turbine comprises
• defining a peak shaver set-point;
• and
• pitching the at least one rotor blade at times below the rated value of the peak shaver parameter and above the peak shaver set-point.

An off-shore wind turbine being situated in water, comprising:

• a) a rotor including at least one rotor blade;
• b) a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade, the pitch drive system being configured to pitch the at least one rotor blade;
• c) a sensor configured to measure at least one of a water current speed, a water current direction and a water level at or close to the wind turbine;
• and
• d) a wind turbine control for controlling the wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine control controls the pitch drive system in dependence of the measured at least one of the water current speed, the water current direction and the water level,
• wherein the off-shore wind turbine includes a rated value of a peak shaver parameter, and
• wherein the wind turbine control is configured to
• define a peak shaver set-point, and
• pitch the at least one rotor blade at times below the rated value of the peak shaver parameter and above the peak shaver set-point.