Feature 3 | environment and renewable energy
Class approval for new wind concept
Det Norske Veritas had granted an approval in principle for a new offshore
wind energy concept developed by design company Sea of Solutions.
A
n
ew concept, created by The
Netherlands-based marine
designers Sea of Solutions in close
cooperation with partner Sparcs Products - a
specialised service provider for the offshore
industry, is called F2F (floating to fixed). It is
an alternative to current fixed offshore wind
installations and reduces the high operational
costs related to offshore installation and
maintenance. F2F is a flexible concept that
is suitable both for shallow waters and for
deepwater installation.
The F2F wind energy concept is based
on the philosophy of designing a robust
wind turbine unit based on proven offshore
technology. Therefore the unit is constructed, this new concept in offshore wind energy, called F2F, reduces installation and
pre-assembled, and commissioned inshore, maintenance costs and can be used in both deep and shallow water.
towed to the offshore location and fixed to
the seabed by suction anchors.
With this concept it is possible to re- dedicated equipment like jack-ups or wind step approach for new developments and
float the entire unit again easily and haul turbine installation vessels. At the same the rules for offshore wind turbines. ‘DNV
it inshore for repairs and major overhauls. time it increases safety for installation and granted us the approval in principle in
There is also no need for seabed preparation maintenance personnel. October 2006 and we continued with the
and it reduces the costs associated with Sea of Solutions is responsible for detailed design to build a prototype,’ says
offshore installation, maintenance, and the technical design of the concept and Bob Rietveldt, commercial director at Sea
repair significantly, as it is not dependent on followed the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) of Solutions. OMT
Windmills for offshore Europe
Aker Kvaerner is to deliver 13 steel substructures for Multibrid M5000
offshore wind turbines in Germany and France.
T
h e G e r m a n Mu l t i b r i d off the Normandy coast of France, at a project of some 45m. The substructures will be
Entwicklungsgesellschaft has called Côte d’Albâtre. installed at a water depth of approximately
awarded Aker Kvaerner a contract The technical planning, engineering, and 30m.
for the procurement and construction of design as well as the contracting work had Rolling of tubulars began in November
13 steel-tripod substructures and piles for been carried out by OWT Offshore Wind 2007, and the assembly in Verdal
Multibrids M5000 offshore windmills. Technologie GmbH, Leer, on behalf of commenced in January 2008. The first six
The M5000 is a wind turbine designed Multibrid. substructures will be delivered in July 2008,
designated for the harsh offshore environment The contract to Aker Kvaerner Verdal, while the remaining seven will be delivered
including a sophisticated air treatments a fabrication yard located in mid-Norway, in September 2008.
system and incorporating nearly all support included procurement of materials, rolling of The structures will bear Multibrid’s
systems redundantly. Six of these shall be tubulars, and construction, until sea-fastening M5000 wind turbines with a rated power of
installed 45km off the coast of Germany, at onto a transport vessel. 5000kW each. The 13 turbines to be installed
the German offshore testfield Alpha Ventus, The substructures will have a weight of in 2008 will deliver power to about 80,000
while the other seven shall be installed 6km approximately 700tonnes each, and a height four-person-households. OMT
18 Offshore Marine Technology 1st Quarter 2008
OMT 1stQ 08 -
p18.indd 18 11/02/2008 11:47:30
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