Renews Offshore Drag Factor

TM Networkers TM International PLC Offshore Wind

Recruitment Specialists over 250 experts providing +44 (0)2020 8315 9400 a one stop shop for full lifecycle offshore project development > re News GLOBAL OFFSHORE REPORT 2012 CHALLENGES AND COSTS • A big ask in the age of austerity • Global industry breaks the 5GW barrier • Industrialisation answer to the costs conundrum • Demo sites for new technology in short supply

PAGE 2 UK AND IRELAND • Careful drivers steering Round 3 into slow lane • EMR adds extra wrinkle to the search for finance • Quick thinking keeps construction on track • Builders add megawatts and experience in 2012 • Developers fear bill for shared grid • Road opens for a cavalcade of Scottish farms • Bell rings for new territorial round • A tale of two markets in Ireland PAGE 5 continental europe • German uncertainty spooks investment • Blame game for grid chaos • Rich French subsidy comes with risks • InControl lives up to its name off Belgium • Giant strides at Thorntonbank 2 • Financing slog to concertina Netherlands build PAGE 17 Offshodrag factorre SCANDINAVIA • Danes dragging their feet near and far • Dong delivers the goods at 400MW Anholt • Eon puts Sweden back in the game • Technology keeps Norwegian hopes afloat • Project trial run to fill in picture for Finns

PAGE 30 Shaky ring of confidence: a bubble curtain dampens the noise of subsea AMERICAS AND ASIA installation work at Trianel’s first • Tipping point within reach for US players phase 200MW Borkum West 2 wind • Brazil mega-farm navigates bureaucratic jungle farm off Germany Photo: Trianel • Political class across Canada turns a blind eye • Hong Kong awaits starting orders Installed offshore wind capacity is growing in the • Post-Fukushima Japan joins new wave in Asia industry’s heartlands of Europe while potentially • Samsung brings scale to South Korea hot-spot major new markets, such as the US, are getting ever PAGE 38 nearer to their first megawatts. Last year’s sky-high fleet upgrades ambitions have been tempered, however, by delays • Bigger, better installation fleet sails into view to the German grid combined with policy uncertainty • New vessels pack a punch and construction challenges off the UK. PAGE 43 •See page 2 for a comprehensive list of coming projects around the world 2 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

GLOBAL PROJECT COUNTDOWN Completed in 2012 A big ask in the Project, location MW Developer Capex Greater Gabbard, UK 504 SSE/RWE £1.3bn* Sheringham Shoal, UK 317 Statoil/Statkraft £1bn* Thorntonbank 2, Belgium 184.5 C-Power €570m** age of austerity TOTAL 1005.5MW Reality check for build rates as UK and Coming in 2013 Gunfleet 3, UK 12 Dong £36m Germany falter, writes Todd Westbrook Lincs, UK 270 Centrica/Dong/SPV £750m* he offshore wind industry find that the reality of far- London Array, UK 630 Eon/Dong Masdar £2.2bn* took a step backwards in horizon projects, both in time Teesside, UK 62 EDF £186m 2012 as the demands of and distance from shore, Borkum West 2.1, Germany 200 Trianel €900m* T finance, hardware supply, require more conservative Meerwind, Germany 288 WindMW €1.3bn* planning and grid combined to timelines to allow clearance of Riffgat, Germany 108 EWE €350m* slow down the major markets of consenting, finance and Thorntonbank 3, Belgium 110.7 C-Power €340m** the UK and Germany. technology hurdles. A policy Anholt, Denmark 400 Dong DKr10bn* A total of 1005MW went environment that remains Karehamn, Sweden 48 Eon SKr1.2bn online in Europe, falling short stubbornly in flux only TOTAL 2128.7MW by 260MW of the expected exacerbates the situation. 2014 figure due to delays to the German hopes for the rest of Gwynt y Mor, UK 576 RWE €2bn* German grid and construction the decade rely on early Kentish Flats Extension, UK ≤ 51 Vattenfall £153m issues at EDF’s Teesside wind adoption of new rules for the West of Duddon Sands, UK 389 SPR/Dong £1.6bn*** farm off north-east England, offshore grid regime, which Baltic 2, Germany 288 EnBW €1.06bn although that was still nearly according to sources in the Bard Offshore 1, Germany 400 Bard €3bnChK twice last year’s tally. country would clear the way to DanTysk, Germany 288 Vattenfall > €1bn* Build rates going forward, investment in infrastructure Global Tech 1, Germany 400 Windreich €1bn* 2128MW in 2013 and 3013MW in and a reliable build of the Nordergrunde, Germany 110 Energiekontor > €300m* 2014, are roughly 2GW shy of substations necessary to meet Nordsee Ost, Germany 295 RWE €1bn* previous estimates for the next developer ambitions. Northwind, Belgium 216 Northwind €900m* two years, largely due to the Finance for individual wind TOTAL 3013MW transmission morass in the farms remains an issue given German North Sea. the number of independent and 2015 Schedules around the middle non-utility developers active in Humber Gateway, UK 219 Eon £736m* of the decade are slipping the market. Increasing comfort Narec offshore demo, UK < 100 Narec £300m severely, in large part because with a project finance Westermost Rough, UK 240 Dong £720m the UK is failing to execute its approach, combined with grid Amrumbank West, Germany 288 Eon €1bn* Round 2, Round 2.5 and early certainty, should allow for Borkum Riffgrund 1, Germany 277 Dong €1.25bn* Round 3 projects as originally orderly progress to return to Butendiek, Germany 288 WPD €1.2bn* timetabled. the German sector post-2015, Deutsche Bucht, Germany 200 Windreich > €1bn* A construction glut is however. MEG 1, Germany 400 Windreich €1.7bn* looming in the run-up to 2020 France bolted into the Sandbank, Germany 400 Vattenfall €1.48bn as countries around Europe gear offshore world in 2012 with a Belwind 2, Belgium 165 InControl €610m up to meet green energy complete package of proposed Luchterduinen, Netherlands 129 Eneco €450m* targets. The supply chain is projects, supply chain Gemini, Netherlands 600 Typhoon €2.6bn* already warning that the investment and grid provision, Block Island, US 30 Deepwater $250m* demands of so many but sources active in the market Atlantic City, US 24 Fishermen’s $250m* simultaneous megawatts will be remain sceptical of meeting Jeju Island, Korea 84 Samsung €311m challenging, particularly given 2020 targets of 6000MW. Even TOTAL 3444MW the need to temper the Round 1 build of 2000MW by expectations and justify 2019 has raised industry 2016 investment over the intervening eyebrows. Burbo Bank 2, UK 258 Dong £774m period. Elsewhere in Europe, the Aberdeen Offshore, UK 77 Vattenfall/Technip £231m The UK is particularly guilty build rate in the short to London Array 2, UK 240 Eon/Dong/Masdar £720m of raising expectations only to medium term will be 3 Neart na Gaoithe, UK 450 Mainstream £1.4bn* Race Bank, UK 580 Centrica £1.74bn Borkum West 2.2, Germany 200 Trianel €720m* Breaking through the 5GW barrier Innogy Nordsee 1, Germany 332 RWE €1bn* Global offshore installations Nordlicher Grund, Germany 320 Blackstone €1.2bn will total 4.6GW at the end of Cape Wind, US ≤ 468 Cape Wind $2bn this year, up from 1.49GW at TOTAL 2925MW the end of 2008. Capacity will reach the 5GW milestone when * Developer’s stated capex ** €1.3bn investment including the cost of 30MW the London Array wind farm Thorntonbank 1, averaged over three phases *** Developer’s stated capex including (pictured) off the south-east export cables to shore. If no capex is available from developers or other sources, we have estimated them on the basis of £3m/MW or €3.7m/MW installed. This figure coast of England goes live in excludes export cable(s) to shore. 2013. The UK tops the global Tidal zone wind farms are not included. A 50MW project was completed by Longyuan at installed offshore wind league Jiangsu Rudong and a 16MW development was built by Cong Ly at Bac Lieu off Vietnam. with 2.68GW. Photo: reNews

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 3

2 boosted by Belgian, Danish and Dutch Industrialisation answer contributions. New rules will then be required before a fresh generation of wind farms can be to the costs conundrum built, putting a question mark urbine manufacturers are Turbine players see a cost savings on individual over Danish hopes of putting up Tready to play a more active projects, he said. These could 1000MW at Horns Rev 3 and role in the project life-cycle to future of shared risk also span multiple projects but Kriegers Flak, as well as Belgian help reduce costs in the and ever closer supply Brown cautioned that he plans for a quartet of sites that offshore wind sector. chain alliances, writes expects different client needs rely on as-yet-undetermined Establishing a politically Will Wachtmeister would in the end dictate shared grid infrastructure. secure and high-volume market contracting strategies and Typhoon’s efforts off the is key to attracting the would involve a range of Netherlands have been investment that will bring 135-metre rotor version of its solutions. hampered by fundraising issues significant economies of scale M5000 offshore wind turbine Areva has a long-term tie-up while the long-term prospects to the industry across Europe. specifically with the UK market with the supply chain through for the sector are unclear under French company Areva’s in mind. A prototype of the unit an agreement with Hochtief and a new government. plans to industrialise and will be produced next year in GeoSea on their next-generation Sweden is back in the reduce costs centre on the line with the company’s installation vessel Innovation. offshore world thanks to Eon’s operation of three manufacturing approach of evolving technology Similar arrangements are decision to build a 48MW hubs, one of which will be in at a steady pace. expected in other areas. project at Karehamn. The the UK. The latter plant will be “This is a risk-averse A spokesperson said: “Areva country is pioneering a Baltic- located on the Firth of Forth on industry,” Brown said. “There is is a turbine developer and specific “sheltered sea” style of the east coast of Scotland and no use talking ourselves into manufacturer, not an development and construction geared towards large projects believing in big leaps forward. installation company, but it is that could cut costs and make in the North Sea. “Technology has to be our firm belief that the success both domestic and neighbouring The company will cover its bankable and I think 5MW will of the industry will rest on long- markets including Finland and core markets from its existing be roughly the average size of term partnerships between Poland more attractive. factory at Bremerhaven, a new turbines.. for the next five those who develop the turbine The US is poised to enter the one at Le Havre and the UK site, years at least.” technology and the companies fray at a number of with each producing around 100 Areva prefers contractual that take responsibility for the demonstration and commercial- turbines a year. set-ups where stakeholders balance of plant, in scale offshore wind farms, led Areva Wind director for the share incentives for realising particular foundation 4 as always by the ambitions of UK Julian Brown said the the up to 468MW Cape Wind. company has a high degree of The latter has been “four years “investor readiness”. Even so, it out” for much of the recent stopped short of an all-out past but appears to have lined commitment and instead signed up the elements necessary to a memorandum of understanding get on the water in 2014. for the Scottish site. RES OFFSHORE Deepwater’s 30MW scheme “Electricity market reform is Innovation. Reliability. Expertise. at Block Island and Fishermen’s a cause for concern for those similar-scale Atlantic City looking to make industrial This is what we build our business on, and that’s what makes us a leader in the sector. project are also at an advanced investments but let’s carry on stage. and work on the assumption RES Offshore develops, constructs and Asia continues its flirtation that solutions will eventually be operates wind, wave and tidal projects for clients across Europe and North America. with offshore wind. China has found,” he said. Whether it’s management of the entire gone into retreat this year but Grid delays in Germany are project or supporting at a specific stage, you will undoubtedly return once it essentially technical in nature, can trust our team. sorts out planning and cost he said, adding that the overall For more information, visit issues. financial climate is also www.res-offshore.com South Korea and Japan are delaying projects so problems applying homegrown industrial there are also solvable. “The muscle to develop early-stage underlying message from the and then gigawatt-scale governments in the UK and projects. Taiwan, Vietnam, Germany hasn’t changed. India and Hong Kong have more “The big issue is that the modest initial ambitions. more volume there is the more Global attention, however, benefit there is in terms of remains focused on Northern learning and industrialisation. If Europe and what can be you establish market certainty, achieved, and at what cost of that reassures developers, which energy. “Offshore wind faces a reassures the finance community, big ask in what is essentially an which reassures the manufacturers age of austerity,” said one and the supply chain, and so on source. “It needs to prove that in a virtuous circle.” it is up to the job.” Areva is already developing a

www.reNews.biz 4 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Demo sites for new technology in short supply he Carbon Trust has alone. Up to 15 different Thighlighted the need for foundation designs also require more next-generation turbine demonstration sites. test sites as part of efforts to In addition, de Villiers called reduce the cost of offshore for market certainty, without wind. which cost reductions will prove “There is a shortage of impossible. • MPI jack-up Adventure has successfully installed the 103-metre demonstration sites... and “Without it you see anemometry platform for Narec’s up to 100MW Blyth offshore wind unless it is addressed quickly developers unwilling to place demo, which is supported by a tripod design for deep-water there will be a delay to cost orders and the supply chain turbine foundations Photo: Narec reductions and the unable to step up. The implementation of new uncertainty also makes it more involvement’ arrangement as tend to support wider technology ideas,” said CT head difficult for specialised part of its strategy to evolve collaboration, better designs, of offshore wind Phil de Villiers. innovation companies to find with the market into a full- and win-win incentive “Innovation has the potential investment.” blown engineering, schemes,” Hodkinson said. to deliver up to 25% cost According to offshore procurement, construction and Technology improvements reduction by 2020 but if big contractor Technip, early installation contractor. such as bigger turbines, more gains aren’t made soon involvement in project The early phase would supply chain competition and government support will stop lifecycles by all participants is establish clarity on package market volume certainty are and projects won’t get built.” key to cost-cutting. interfaces, risk mitigation and “necessary but not sufficient” The trust estimates that up Vice president for offshore target costs before a developer to deliver the industry’s £100 to 56 turbines will need to be wind David Hodkinson said the goes to detailed tender. It per megawatt-hour costs goal. tested offshore in the very near company has started offering would also set cost reduction as “Ultimately it means the term for UK requirements developers an ‘early contractor a goal for all stages of the successful delivery of project. individual, complex projects “Early involvement of the where typically things go supply chain in projects will wrong,” he added. Answering the costs conundrum production and production and installation 3 installation of the wind stages of (project) park.” development, we can produce German manufacturer fully optimised turbines that Repower, meanwhile, is calling are highly efficient and for supply chain collaboration therefore more cost effective.” approaching full-blown Repower said it is optimistic alliancing models. that volumes will be sufficient Vice-president for offshore to enable economies of scale wind development Norbert through industrialisation. “We Giese said: “The situation we need more component suppliers face today is a young to boost competition, and more fragmented industry where demand to encourage the suppliers and OEMs work in production of cheaper isolation. What we need is ‘standard’ components. strategic consortiums between “Because demand remains turbine manufacturers (and the relatively low, parts are often balance of plant supply chain) made to order, which is and marine contractors.” expensive and inefficient,” He argued collaboration Giese said. would optimise turbine “Like any successful sector in construction and reduce its infancy, industrialisation is installation costs. “Currently just a matter of time. The the turbine tower, foundations proliferation of large-scale, and the interface between 300MW to 500MW, offshore wind them are developed farms will boost demand to a independently. level that will support an “By working with our industrialised, cost-effective suppliers at the design, sector. This is a certainty.”

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 5 Careful drivers steering Round 3 into slow lane K Round 3 developers are UK application applications in response to adopting a flexible higher-than-anticipated Uapproach and timetables slip as volumes of consultation conservative timelines as developers digest feedback. • Plus points: Belfast yard consenting, finance and The first wind farm in the Harland & Wolff tackled technology pressures take their hefty consultation round to enter offshore construction of the suction toll on ambitious early plans. feedback, writes construction is now expected to bucket foundations for a pair of The exact size of the round’s be Hornsea Project 1 in 2015, innovative met masts scheduled contribution to government Will Wachmeister following on from possible to go up this year at Forewind’s offshore wind targets for 2020 consent in the third quarter of Dogger Bank Round 3 zone. remains Atlantic Array is now likely to 2014. Developer SMartWind and Fred Olsen newbuild Brave Tern impossible to start a six-year offshore partner Dong were unable to will install the units and other predict in construction programme no predict how long it would take contractors include SeaRoc. the face of sooner than 2017, dashing to build the 1.2GW farm, Photo: Carbon Trust an uncertain market and earlier ambitions for 2015. however. ongoing schedule slippages. Partner RWE said the newly Hornsea Project 2, at up to developments could be seen in Developers across the board firmed-up timetable takes 1.8GW, could be consented 2017 with overall construction are now planning to generate at “account of all environmental soon afterwards. Timescales are finishing in 2021 in best-case least some power before the and engineering considerations” fluid here because Dong has yet scenarios. No firm plans exist end of the decade following a in its recent draft to decide whether to exercise a for the project’s remaining new and ambitious timeline environmental statement but full purchase option. potential of nearly 5GW. unveiled earlier this year for does not rule out further Hornsea’s final phase of up Capacity appraisal has shown Centrica and Dong’s 2.2GW changes as more information is to 2GW, which is also likely to that Vattenfall and Iberdrola’s Rhiannon offshore wind farm in gathered. be offloaded, is expected to be East Anglia zone can deliver at the Irish Sea, where work on Atlantic Array is one of three consented in early 2018. least 7.2GW. “We have the water could kick off in early Round 3 projects that First power from Dogger identified two further projects 2017. recently pushed back their Bank’s up to 2.4GW Creyke Beck (after East Anglia 1) with Previous Round 3 frontrunner development consent order and up to 2.4GW Teesside an indicative size of 6

One supplier – more choices. With a flexible fleet you can choose just what your projects need.

www.A2SEA.com

www.reNews.biz 6 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 EMR adds extra wrinkle to the search for finance Huge investment needed but policy uncertainty muddies waters

he ongoing electricity forward to more clarity in the vital for the industry as a whole market reform process is next three to six months, which and we are actively engaging Careful drivers Tcausing additional delays should help us identify and find with DECC on this.” for projects looking to sell investors,” said general Funding pioneer Dong, steer Round 3 stakes to raise construction manager Barry Hopkins. meanwhile, expressed cautious capital. Early Round 3 developers are optimism about the possibilities into slow lane Law firm Pinsent Masons, adopting a wait-and-see of outside finance. around 1200MW each, which has advised on several approach on finance as the “We are on a learning curve 5 and further projects will offshore lease awards and scale of the required with regards to the financial be in the pipeline,” said project ownership changes, said investments and stretched community. However, by raising programme director Jason Round 3 investors are waiting utility balance sheets reignite more than €2.5bn from non- Martin (pictured). for “key regulatory uncertainty” fears about a looming funding utility investors during the last “So we’re now at the stage around EMR to lift. gap. two years we have clearly of working out procurement and “The levels of investment Eon was planning to finance demonstrated that it is possible construction that should last for are enormous and more players the roughly £2bn Rampion wind to attract both institutional a decade.” First power is and new entrants will move into farm off the south coast on investors and large expected in 2018, around the Round 3 to shoulder the balance sheet but now says it is corporations,” a spokesman same time as Atlantic Array. (financial) burden,” said Pinsent keeping an open mind. “We said. Rampion has run into Masons partner Jennifer have not yet set the financing “Each partnership increases planning application delays for Ballantyne. strategy and have not ruled out interest from new investors Eon but the single-project zone SMart Wind, which is looking any approaches to funding at from new parts of the world but could still be finished in 2018 if to attract investment for the this stage,” said a all of these players have it is consented in early 2014 third phase of its Hornsea zone, spokesperson. different approaches to and construction starts as agrees. “EMR has created a lot “Clarity on the level of offshore wind and need very planned in 2015. of confusion and we look support the EMR will offer is tailor-made solutions.” Whether the up to 1200MW On the technology front, grid Navitus Bay will be fully online complex steel structures challenges remain a widespread before 2020 depends on the offshore foundations t substations t jackets t suction anchors t topsides worry. The selection of HVDC developer adopting an all-year- transmission technology for the round construction approach. first 1200MW project in Seasonal building could push Vattenfall and SPR’s East Anglia completion out to 2021. A zone recently pushed back the significant application delay start of offshore construction earlier this year contributed to by a year to 2017 because of the project’s offshore bring on the four-year delivery lead times on construction start being moved large offshore platforms. back two years to 2018. Dong pointed out the choice Huub den Rooijen, head of of HVDC technology has led to a offshore wind at the Crown challenge general rise in upfront costs and Estate, said the organisation is risk in the round. UK country aware of Round 3 hold-ups. “In manager Benj Sykes said: “The some cases these are caused by process often involves large, inevitable delays in the early downpayments.” planning process and we Navitus Bay is already continue our efforts to work seeking ways to offload with industry and statutory High-end offshore steel structures. transmission procurement and bodies to minimise such delays. construction risk. “We’re “As projects progress our Customised for your needs. investigating the market for focus is increasingly moving appetite to build the beyond consenting to delivery,” The choice is yours. transmission assets using an he said. “Clarity from the engineering, procurement and government on the legislative construction (contract) but we energy package is as critical as are aware there are potentially continued commitment from very few companies willing to the sector to demonstrate take that on,” said project economic benefits. director Mike Unsworth. “There is a real risk that Developers are generally investors will lose confidence in positive about cost- the UK if the government can’t www.bladt.dk reductions from using 7 find its voice.”

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 7 Piecemeal funding approach not fit for purpose ttracting third-party the supply chain confidence.” 10 years and cover several wind for offshore wind. We have Ainvestors will be crucial to Temperton argued construction projects, Temperton argued. already seen investment by realising the UK’s offshore wind risk, supply chain visibility and This type of programme pension funds, private equity ambitions but questions remain the scale of Round 3 are the financing would lead to supply and sovereign wealth funds so I as Round 3 moves ever closer. main challenges. chain visibility, better terms think the process has already Utility-developers were once “The money is getting bigger and simplicity, and could be started.” thought to be prepared to and the supply chain needs to applied to Round 3 zones in The consortium approach at spend £2bn a year for the rest see that their clients have the their entirety instead of each the 576MW Gwynt y Mor wind of the decade. financing in place for a series of wind farm individually. farm is an example, he said, of However, even that baseline projects in order to have the RWE Innogy chief operating bringing in third-party investors. is now in doubt because of confidence to invest significantly officer Paul Coffey said: “Utility The £2bn development is being falling share prices and lower- in its capabilities,” he said. balance sheets are under funded by RWE Innogy in than-expected proceeds from The way forward is for pressure and it’s clear that partnership with Stadtwerke asset sell-offs. portfolio deals that span five to outside investment is needed München and Siemens. Investment will need to rise steadily to an annual £8bn by EMR adds extra wrinkle to the search for finance 2020 if the UK’s 18GW end-of- next-generation Atlantic Array, partly in decade offshore capacity target 6 turbines but none has so response to a consultation is to be achieved. far firmly ruled out using feedback-induced reduction in Climate Change Capital head current hardware. maximum numbers this summer. of advisory Ian Temperton, who “On East Anglia 1 we’re Elsewhere in the RWE stable, oversees the investment focusing on getting proven, chief operating officer Paul management and advisory cost-effective technology,” Coffey said Dogger Bank’s group’s capital raising and M&A programme director Jason distance from shore means it transactions, said the current Martin said. “We’ve started the will need “new concepts” for approach to project-financing is procurement process for installation and O&M. a potential brake on the sector. turbines. We have received the “The conditions are such “Our view is that the way first offers from manufacturers that concepts like man-made people are financing projects and will make a selection over islands or converted aircraft doesn’t scale up,” he said. the next year.” carriers as installation bases “Each deal seems to have a Offloading risk: Navitus Bay RWE has signalled it wants to may no longer be fanciful,” he new structure and doesn’t give project director Mike Unsworth use 6MW-plus machines at added.

The strength of our offshore services lies in the combination of our project management, engineering skills and versatile vessels. The large lifting & storage capacity coupled with the speed and dynamic positioning system of Reliable strength meets our vessels enables us to install your wind farm equipment with great effi ciency and reliable power precision. Working with Jumbo means teaming up with a reliable business partner.

www.jumbogroup.nl

www.reNews.biz 8 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

Foundations flurry: Mid-decade SHL heavylift vessel Stanislav Yudin doldrums installing monopiles and transition pieces hard to miss at the 576MW Gwynt he current batch of y Mor wind farm Tprojects are part of a Photo: RWE procession that will add significantly to installed UK offshore wind capacity over the next few years. A big dip, however, is looming for 2015 and any acceleration beyond 2016 has yet to be firmed up. Capacity will grow by roughly 820MW in 2012 with just shy of 1GW coming online in 2013 via London Array, Lincs and others. The following year will also be reasonably strong if nearly 1GW at Gwynt y Mor and West of Duddon Sands goes live as planned, possibly bolstered by the up to 51MW Kentish Flats Extension. However, 2015 looks like it will see just under 460MW installed, and that is an optimistic maximum. Dong has yet to set any timelines for Westermost Rough, the first commercial project to be earmarked for the Siemens 6MW turbine, so whether it can make 2015 remains to be seen. Eon is still committed to enter Humber Gateway into Quick thinking keeps construction next year for commissioning in 2015, sources said, although its ongoing offshore wind construction on track spending review means the ust over 1.5GW of offshore UK project teams addressed by bringing in MPI utility is unable to comment wind is currently under Discovery to work alongside its on timelines. Jconstruction in the UK at overcome difficult sister vessel. Whether Centrica’s Race sites including Lincs, Teesside seabeds, some late ”A second construction Bank can become operational and Gynt y Mor while London challenge we faced is that we in 2016 is touch and go with Array heads for the finish line. installation vessels did not fully understand just some contracting sources A steady stream of and rough weather how difficult the site was. leaning towards 2017. A final challenges at the Thames Water depths go from 25 metres investment decision is Estuary project have put to inter-tidal,” said Rigg. expected early next year. in-house capabilities at joint personnel they contributed, Installing infield cables in Doubts have also been owners Dong and Eon to the test mainly supporting Eon with the inter-tidal waters proved too expressed about whether Dong this year but quick thinking and electrical side,” said project much for Global Marine can bring online its Walney 3 the flexibility offered by a director Richard Rigg. Systems. and Burbo Bank 2 sites in multi-contracting approach has Barring weather-induced Early this year, VSMC took 2016, although the company kept progress largely on track. delays, the 630MW wind farm over the cabling contract the said it remains committed to Dong has applied its will complete the installation company had earlier shared the deadline in line with expertise mainly to offshore phase by the end of the year for with GMS. “Visser & Smit had Round 2.5 tender criteria. installation while Eon focused full commissioning in early access to more suitable RWE and SSE’s 504MW on the electrical system. 2013. vessels,” the project director Galloper project is tackling “Masdar, as investors, added The first hurdle to overcome said. consenting challenges with a rigour to risk management and was the delayed arrival of MPI The inter-tidal areas determination now expected this year saw an increase in the Adventure last year, which was also influenced the 9 in 2013. www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 9

foundation and turbine generated on 29 October. Energy Renewables’ 62MW October but a change of vessel 8 vessel spread, which Further up the east coast, Teesside project has also had is on the cards to deal with underwent several changes. Centrica’s 270MW Lincs offshore its share of delays this year and rougher winter weather. Ballast Nedam heavylift vessel wind farm overcame its main now looks likely to be fully Offshore construction at Svanen was brought in to carry hurdle, infield cabling, by commissioned early in 2013. RWE’s 576MW Gwynt y Mor got out monopile installation in bringing in new vessels and The 27-turbine Round 1 wind underway this year despite the shallower waters where the contractors to tackle a difficult farm, which was originally due delayed arrival of the utility’s Adventure’s draft was too large seabed. to be fully installed in October, own installation vessel the but also because A2Sea’s Sea First power was generated in suffered from poor weather and Friedrich Ernestine. Worker was unable to lift the late August. The project has from an incident where jack-up RWE has lined up a strong heavier monopiles. seen heavy weather but JB-114 become stuck in the vessel spread, including SHL First power was originally installation could be seabed. heavylift unit Stanislav Yudin anticipated towards the end of substantially complete by next JB-114 was originally and A2Sea’s Sea Jack and Sea 2011 but was delayed initially March. scheduled to start turbine Worker, and full operation by late export cable delivery Another step north, EDF installation in July and finish in remains scheduled for 2014. and then by technical problems at the Cleve Hill substation. Without the latter hitch Dual FEED strategy surfaces at Navitus Bay several turbines would have Navitus Bay’s developers are investment decision,” said partner, acting as a Tier 1 been energised by July, Rigg considering an innovative dual project director Mike Unsworth. supplier of foundations and said. front-end engineering and The pre-qualification stage possibly also cables and Instead the team had to design process for the Round 3 could start towards the end of offshore substations. resort to the unusual solution of site. next year after the next “The alternative is to go commissioning turbines to 80%, Two separate supply chain geotechnical campaign. The down the more traditional route leaving the final 20% to be consortia or joint ventures will FEED would be paid for by of breaking the project down carried out after the Cleve Hill be invited to carry out parallel project partners EDF Energy and into separate tendering issue was finally resolved last FEED studies for the wind Eneco. packages,” Unsworth said. month. farm’s balance of plant with Unsworth said he expects the “We’re not looking for an The final half of October saw the aim of identifying cost- winning consortia to include engineering, procurement and the project rack up several cutting innovation. offshore installation companies construction contractor for the milestones: installation of the “Running a dual FEED process as well as designers and wind farm because prevailing final export cable, the final would retain competitiveness hardware suppliers. They would market conditions show there foundation and the final array and create added value through gain the option of becoming the are very few companies willing cable. First power was innovation ahead of our final project’s balance of plant and able to take it on.”

Over 7.6GW of offshore wind. When it comes to developing renewable plant offshore, it helps to have a smart, fast, flexible partner.

www.reNews.biz 10 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

record-breaking chunk of offshore wind capacity A went live in the UK this year but the Greater Gabbard and Sheringham Shoal projects will be remembered for highlighting the sector’s inherent construction challenges. The 504MW Greater Gabbard, featuring 140 Siemens 3.6MW turbines, was commissioned in September but contractor disputes will rumble on well into 2013. An initial arbitration was settled last week and found in favour of owners SSE and RWE. Contractor Fluor expects to take a roughly $400m pre-tax hit in the fourth quarter in connection with the claims. SSE and RWE have also filed a counterclaim against Fluor seeking to recover costs associated with alleged defects. The counterclaim is currently scheduled for hearing in April Learning curve: Statoil and Statkraft’s 317MW Sheringham Shoal wind farm Photo: Scira 2013, according to Fluor. “To the extent the client’s counterclaim is successful, there could be additional Builders add megawatts charges to the company’s earnings,” said the US contractor. and experience in 2012 The disputes centre on roughly 50 defective foundations. At strategy that EPC approaches able to take on entire projects. campaign along with several some point in the future the can significantly reduce your “In response, our strategy has installation vessel spread owners will need to decide influence and transparency. The been to build our own changes and tough winter whether to repair the units, second lesson is around the competences using the multi- conditions. replace them, remove affected quality assurance from suppliers contract approach by dividing The Norwegian companies turbines altogether, or and how we manage that from the project into a number of are now hoping to apply the undertake some combination of the outset. This is critical to lots and taking the interface lessons learned at the 560MW all the three. project success. management in-house like we Dudgeon wind farm, which they RWE said it has gained “Greater Gabbard has also are doing on Gwynt y Mor,” he purchased this year. valuable experience. “The EPC highlighted challenges around said. Gabbard and Sheringham solution doesn’t push away all cable installation and burial.” Sheringham Shoal also Shoal added just over 820MW to the risk in the construction Coffey added that the struggled to the finish line this UK offshore totals this year, period,” said chief operating required risk premium for EPC year, arriving nine months late bringing installed capacity to officer Paul Coffey. strategies in the market is “still but on budget. Partners Statoil just under 2.7GW. Some 520MW “We have learned from the too high” and that there are and Statkraft had to deal with a was built last year and nearly Greater Gabbard construction only a few suppliers potentially full rethink on the foundation 650MW in 2010.

Offshore wind. From concept to operation.

mainstreamrp.com We’re different. And it shows.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 11 Subsidy cap powers set off alarms mechanism that could cap Levy Control Framework could slam the brakes on construction renewables subsidies has A sparked fears policymakers EMR are resolvable, he added, currently planned to be phased continuing with UK renewables will succumb to growing energy and it is too early to start in,” said RWE chief operating investment. Next time we ask policy populism by limiting lobbying for a 2020 extension to officer Paul Coffey. (the German company’s board) offshore wind’s buildout. the RO. “We would much prefer “Introducing EMR right when for an investment it will be The Levy Control Framework getting this sorted now rather these projects could come to clear that confidence has been gives government powers to than kicking the can down the fruition is a very risky dented and we will have to limit the amount that can be road,” he told reNews. situation.” work long and hard to rebuild raised, for the Renewables RWE and SSE have already Policy debates are being held that confidence,” Coffey said. Obligation or electricity market started lobbying for an RO against a background of “We also have to remember reform, through consumer bills. extension, motivated in part by increasing anti-wind posturing that within RWE, the UK is “Our concern is that Levy their large onshore portfolios by elements of the Conservative competing for international could restrict offshore wind but also the timing of Round 3. Party. capital that could go to other development,” said Dong’s UK “Early Round 3 projects “The inevitable outcome is countries if they have more wind country manager Benj Sykes. should be in construction that RWE will quite rightly ask attractive renewable “The issue for the market is around 2017 at the time EMR is whether we should be environments.” that there is little transparency on how big or small the Supply chain wants the UK to play longer game (subsidy) pot is, how it will be ffshore wind players are “When you consider what Securing a partner with deep divided up, if at all, between Ocalling for a fourth round of investors are looking for, one of pockets would allow the Danish different technologies and how Crown Estate leases to sustain the issues is that nothing is manufacturer to realise its companies can win a share.” the industry to 2030 and certain after 2025. Offshore wind ambition of becoming a top-two Cost reduction will become beyond. Supply chain and other needs long-term certainty to get supplier to the industry. increasingly important if there participants fear that the the right environment to invest.” The Vestas man sees take-off is only a limited amount of pre-2020 boom could otherwise The outlook for the sector is for the next-generation turbine funding available. “Obviously, turn to bust in the next decade. key in Vestas Offshore’s ongoing market happening a number of more projects can be achieved “We would wish for a Round 4 talks with Mitsubishi about years after 2015, which is one for a given price if the costs are to be in the planning,” said setting up an alliance in part to reason the company backed lower,” Sykes said. Vestas Offshore senior vice- introduce the next-generation away from a planned Ongoing design issues for president Uffe Vinther-Schou. V164 8MW turbine, he said. manufacturing facility in 12

Lifting Offshore Wind

www.windcarrier.com Oslo, Head office: +47 22 34 10 00 Fredericia office: +45 76 20 36 63 Fred. Olsen Windcarrier

www.reNews.biz 12 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Developers fear bill for shared grid hared offshore grid Grid is getting us to do. There developers about how that the there is an overall cost benefit infrastructure promises are clear clashes of interest extra investment will be repaid to grid users. Smassive savings for the between the three parties,” a when the assets are cost- Second, Ofgem is working to national network but wind developer source said. assessed by Ofgem as part of ensure there are no barriers developers increasingly worry As it stands, there is no the OFTO process. between developers and they will have to foot the bill. mechanism to treat so-called The regulator said it would National Grid when it comes to National Grid is already anticipatory investment in the consult on its proposals for the working out plans for shared making co-ordinated grid offers OFTO process. This occurs when treatment of anticipatory transmission initiatives. while regulator Ofgem is a developer, as part of an investment, which it calls “Undoubtedly there are pledging to provide certainty agreement with National Grid, “investment to support more significant potential savings,” for developers asked to make builds more transmission assets efficient connections for later Hull said, pointing to studies extra transmission investments. than necessary for a particular phases of offshore generation”, that suggest totals between The offshore wind offshore wind farm. before the end of the year. £500m and £3.5bn depending community, meanwhile, is Such scenarios save costs by Ofgem commercial managing mainly on the amount of trying to make sure the providing shared transmission director Bob Hull said the main offshore wind that is actually additional costs can be kit for future developments and role for the watchdog is to built. “But future scenarios are recouped in the OFTO process. contribute towards a more ensure developers have extremely dependent on “The basic problem is we efficient national network. certainty to make anticipatory technology where there is a lot don’t want Ofgem to punish us The problem is that there is investment in co-ordinated of work still to be done, so it’s for doing something National as yet no certainty for infrastructure in cases where a case of wait and see.” Long game call Kent. “The Sheerness 11 decision was taken after applying a good dose of realism,” said Vinther-Schou. “We don’t think the customers will be there for the V164 in early 2015, which had been part of our original planning.” He said he still believes the introduction of larger turbines by established players such as Vestas, even if it is in the second half of the decade, will be crucial to the sector’s cost-reduction ambitions. The call for the longer horizons that might be sparked by a Round 4 was echoed across the balance of plant supply chain. “We are too focused on 2020. We need to look at 2030 and beyond,” said Alex Dawson, chief executive of fabricator TAG and chairman of regional supply chain group Energi Coast. “Institutional investors in the supply chain want to see a pipeline of projects stretching well into the next decade. We’ve already seen delays on projects that we thought were going to happen by now and we’re in a situation where some institutional investors are asking will it ever happen?” Crown Estate head of offshore wind energy Huub den Rooijen said: “We are constantly monitoring requirements and we have an open mind but we are not actively working on creating Round 4.”

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 13

NORTH OF THE BORDER TIMETABLE Road opens for Project MW Developer Build start Argyll Array 1800 SPR 2018 Beatrice 1000 SSE/Repsol 2015 a cavalcade of EOWDC 77 Vattenfall/ Technip 2014-15 Inch Cape 905 Repsol/EDP 2016 Islay 690 SSE 2017 Scottish farms Neart na Gaoithe 450 Mainstream 2015 Most advanced projects heading for the R3 Moray Telford 500 EDP/Repsol 2015 R3 Moray Stevenson 500 EDP/Repsol 2016 water in 2015, writes Todd Westbrook R3 Moray MacColl 500 EDP/Repsol 2017 R3 Seagreen Alpha 525 Fluor/SSE 2016 pplications for Scottish Beatrice in the Moray Firth. offshore wind farms Mainstream filed its consent R3 Seagreen Bravo 525 Fluor/SSE 2016 Atotalling more than 4GW application at NnG in the were filed in 2012, making the summer and holds a grid logistics and other support feedback on the up to question for the country’s new connection offer for the end of activity. 277-turbine project while industry “when” rather than 2014. Foundations will be either aviation objections have been “if”. However, early-stage steel jackets or gravity base. filed by NATS and the Ministry The reality of planning and estimates of construction Power will be exported via one of Defence. construction, starting in 2014 have been or two offshore substations to SSE and Repsol have a however, has tempered with the company an onshore substation at the contracting head-start, led to now officially targeting 2015. Crystal Rig 2 wind farm in East however, thanks to an alliance schedule Industry sources said they Lothian. approach to offshore wind that revisions at expect movement on a range of The Beatrice partners, which includes Subsea7, Siemens T&D, both Scottish Territorial Waters contracts in the next 18 months filed applications in support of Atkins, Bifab and Siemens Wind. and Round 3 developments. with turbines of at least 3.6MW their wind farm in April, are Work on the water is scheduled Mainstream and SSE/Repsol and up to 7MW in the frame. facing delays related to to begin in 2015 at the earliest. are poised to move the quickest Discussions have also been planning that make a decision Grid connections are in hand for with, respectively, their STW instigated with onshore unlikely in the shorter term. spring 2016, 2017 and 2018. projects at Neart na Gaoithe in facilities around the Forth and A number of statutory SSE said when filing its the outer Firth of Forth and Tay with an eye to staging, consultees have yet to supply application with Marine 14

t
FOHJOFFSJOH
BOE
DPOTVMUJOH
TFSWJDFT t
QSPKFDU
EFMJWFSZ t
PQFSBUJPOT
BOE
NBJOUFOBODF t
USBJOJOH

www.reNews.biz 14 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Bell rings for new territorial round

he Scottish government is overall sector development will Dong and the Crown Estate, offshore renewables in the intent on securing further be produced by Holyrood in which runs until three months country. Tinvestment in offshore summer 2013 following ongoing after the final offshore plan is Sources suggested that wind through the early consultation on identified areas. published by the Scottish Holyrood’s desire for devolution identification of development Up to 15 zones are being government next year. An and reform at the Crown Estate, opportunities in both traditional considered for STW2, including agreement for an up to 280MW as well as the upcoming and deep-water technologies. four off the east coast, four off project lease may then be independence referendum, is Planning is already well the Northern Isles, one off the pursued. muddying the waters. advanced for a second round of north-west coast, five off the Crown officials have On the floating front, the licences in Scottish territorial west coast and one in the otherwise shied away from Scottish government is expected waters, a so-called STW2, as Solway. engaging with the details of a to launch a consultation before well as for an initial series of The latter is already the second round off Scotland, the end of the year on promised floating demonstrators in subject of an out-of-round saying only that the seabed specific Renewables Obligation selected waters. A plan for exclusivity agreement between landlord is “committed” to support for the technology, as well as other “experimental” wind elements such as novel Road opens for a Scottish cavalcade foundations. Scotland that a final in the Moray Firth. Original Array wind farm, which has The RO banding is not 13 investment decision “is schedules for “steel in the sea” been set back by the need to expected to support a large unlikely to be taken before came unstuck earlier this year carry out extra environmental amount of capacity but will 2014 at the earliest”. and the developer has yet to work in connection with basking “help secure the progress and The utility is also involved identify a new plan. An onshore sharks and great northern deployment of small alongside Fluor in the Round 3 met mast was erected in divers. The footprint was demonstration projects” ahead Firth of Forth zone, for which Caithness this year. reduced as a result. of 2017. initial applications were filed in Applications for the Moray Paperwork for the project Norwegian company Statoil October. projects, known as Telford, off Tiree on the west coast will lobbied for just such a measure Seagreen Alpha and Bravo Stevenson and MacColl, have not be filed until 2014. Onshore in its response to the RO are located around 27km off the been filed with Marine Scotland. works are set for 2018 with first consultation process. The Angus coast on “relatively flat, Up to 339 turbines will be power by 2020. company is eyeing plans to uniform seabed” in waters up to required in total with sizes SSE’s 690MW plans off Islay, install an around 20MW Hywind 55 metres deep. The projects ranging from 3.6MW to 8MW. to the south of Argyll, are due 2 demo off Aberdeenshire (see will feature up to 75 turbines of Foundations will be gravity to land with Marine Scotland at Norway, p34). 7MW each. Power from the bases or jackets. the end of 2013. Six deep-water sites were Seagreen duo will come ashore Moray will connect to shore A fisheries meeting was held identified in the government’s at Carnoustie and connect to a near Fraserburgh in this month as part of ongoing plan for next-generation substation at Tealing. Aberdeenshire. Infrastructure consultation on the wind farm, offshore wind. Work on the water is due to will include between five and for which a larger footprint was Each nominated 30-square- begin in 2016 and wrap up in eight offshore platforms, granted by the Crown Estate kilometre area is in waters the fourth quarter of 2019. A including up to two AC/DC earlier this year. between 80 and 120 metres met mast was due to go in this converter stations. Repsol and EDP are targeting deep with a wind resource year but work on the suction The developer holds a series an application before the end greater than 9m/s and bucket unit has yet to kick off, of grid connections starting of this year for the 905MW Inch proximity to onshore grid it is understood, raising doubts with 120MW in October 2016 Cape in the outer Firth of Tay infrastructure. about installation before next and jumping yearly to a total of off the east coast. The zones off the coasts of spring. 1500MW by 2020. The project holds a trio of Caithness, Moray, Aberdeenshire A met mast was also due to Planned Scottish applications grid connection offers for 2017 (two), the Western Isles and go up this year at EDP and that have yet to be filed include and will connect at Cockenzie Shetland are expected to host Repsol’s 1500MW Round 3 zone SPR’s proposal for the Argyll in East Lothian. up to 100MW each. Turbine Transfers A division of Holyhead Towing Offshore wind farm workboats www.turbinetransfers.co.uk [email protected] tel: 0044 1407 760111

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 15 Drive to dot land and sea with sites for demonstrators

rivate and public sector Pinterests are hoping to fill a European-wide requirement for both onshore and offshore demonstration sites for evolving turbine technology. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are working to secure onshore and near-shore opportunities while Vattenfall, Technip and AREG are gearing up at the European Offshore Wind World’s longest blade: Samsung Demonstration Centre off has committed to testing its Aberdeen. 7MW next-generation turbine The latter is anticipating at a near-shore site off Methil sanction for a 77MW array Photo: SSP Technology before the end of the year, which would clear construction to kick off in 2014 ahead of a which Scottish Enterprise is landowners and industry,” said supply chain investment to take late 2015 grid connection. providing £4.3m in funding. HIE. hold. “There is huge potential Six potential suppliers have SSE is expected to fill the Andy McDonald, director of for engineering and signed memoranda of other two berths with machines renewable energy at Scottish manufacture. We are also understanding for the seven- from Siemens and Mitsubishi, Enterprise, said the test sites working with indigenous supply turbine site, including most of with the initial unit going in are in part about creating the chain about accessing the rest the market’s big-name next year. right conditions for wider of the world,” he said. participants. The agency is meanwhile Agreement has been reached narrowing a list of other on radar mitigation solutions potential onshore test sites with with civilian and military the aim of securing between officials, although details and five and 10 in the short term. timelines will only be An initial cull is being established once consent for followed up by more detailed the demo has been granted. feasibility studies, carried out Scottish Enterprise is leading by Arcus, that also takes into the charge in Fife on behalf of account issues such as access South Korean giant Samsung, and grid. which has committed to testing Dutch turbine developer 2-B its 7MW next-generation turbine Energy, which gave up a slot off at a near-shore site off Methil. Methil to accommodate If successful the machine Samsung, is in active discussions could spark manufacturing about using one of the onshore investment such as a gearbox test sites. plant for David Brown. Successful deployment could The Hartlepool company is spark Scottish manufacturing of due to produce an initial unit the two-bladed downwind for inclusion in the Samsung machine, it is understood, turbine by early next year. An although a similar test and We are working on the future 83.5-metre blade for the unit commercial roll-out with manpower for wind energy produced by SSP in Denmark is combination is being explored being tested in Germany. in the Netherlands. 3URÀWIURPRXUDOOLQRQHNQRZKRZIURPPDQXIDFWXULQJ The national enterprise Highlands and Islands DQGFRQVWUXFWLRQPDLQWHQDQFHXSWRFRPPLVVLRQLQJDQG agency has also secured a test Enterprise has also been UHFXUUHQWWHFKQLFDOLQVSHFWLRQVRIZLQGWXUELQHVLQRSHUDWLRQ berth at SSE’s three-turbine screening potential onshore test :HZLOOVXSSRUW\RXLQDUHOLDEOHDQGFRPSHWHQWZD\²DW Hunterston demo on the west sites in its area, this time with coast of Scotland. Atmos carrying out the work. ORFDWLRQVZRUOGZLGH A bidding process for the slot Two locations remain of will kick off early next year. interest. There has been “lots of positive “Discussions are ongoing with 8.2 Consulting AG www.8p2.de early interest” in the site, for the relevant local authorities,

www.reNews.biz 16 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 A tale of two markets in Ireland ffshore wind in Ireland is 600MW development cooking in North while developers in Republic left experiencing a major to fight for distant export opportunities, writesJack Horgan-Jones Ogulf in fortunes on either side of the border. also tackle the problem of a stakeholders as it goes on a international contractors, said The stage is set in Northern weak onshore grid that public relations blitz designed sources. Ireland for work to begin on the currently would struggle to to ease the passage of the A good example is Michael F province’s maiden project after accommodate an extra 600MW. project from conceptualisation Ewings Shipping, which has the Crown Sources in the North said through to construction and entered into a joint venture Estate First Flight is engaged in operation. with logistics player Blue Water awarded preliminary analysis with grid The full benefit of the Shipping. development operators NIE and SONI to much-vaunted supply chain is South of the border, a major rights for a 600MW offshore identify a shortlist of landfall unlikely to be enjoyed re-organisation is underway as wind zone in October. and connection points. This exclusively by domestic players the industry adjusts to life Winning consortium First process is expected to take in the six counties. without the prospect of a Flight Wind, a joint venture of around eight months to However, there is an government subsidy. Dong and RES/B9 Energy, is complete. opportunity for indigenous Brian Britton, chairman of already getting its teeth into The developer is meanwhile companies to offer their local offshore wind industry the lengthy process of data engaging with various knowledge and buddy up with body NOW Ireland, said: 17 collection, surveys and zone characterisation. Harbours are jousting for Irish Sea support role Most of the marine bird ong’s £50m offshore wind they will be targeting a market development plans are in place surveys are set to be completed Dsupport facility at Belfast for 11,000 turbines in UK and in Cork Harbour, where Burke before community engagement harbour is on course for Irish waters in the Irish Sea by Shipping is hoping to land and consultation kicks off in a completion by the end of the 2020. distribution contracts with meaningful way next spring. year. Meanwhile, south of the turbine manufacturers active in In 2014, another round of The first job to be tackled by border, a recent study by the the Irish Sea. consultation and analysis will the 50-acre complex will be Irish Maritime Development The company is in talks with be undertaken as the results of Dong’s 389MW joint venture Office stated that seven Irish the Port of Cork for dredging the environmental assessment with ScottishPower Renewables ports are in a good position to work and has lined up Danish emerge. at West of Duddon sands. serve offshore marine renewables. consultancy Ramboll to refine The development group must Belfast harbour officials said Of the seven, preliminary its plans.

Supporting Offshore Wind www.bnoffshore.com

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 17

Painful 16 “In times to come I progress: hope (the government) costs are are not coming back with their estimated tails between their legs if they to have don’t meet the targets from raeched onshore and biomass.” €2.5bn at Major projects are looking to the German direct connection to the UK developer’s market as a lifeline including 400MW Bard Fred Olsen and Hazel Shore’s Offshore 1 1100MW Codling wind farm, as Photo: Bard revealed exclusively in reNews earlier this month. Central to the success of these plans is a memorandum of understanding between the British and Irish governments on energy export, which is expected before the end of the year. Without the pact exports German uncertainty are a non-starter. Irish energy minister Pat Rabbitte’s plans for a royalty on export projects may also queer the pitch. Britton said there is spooks investment “no use in imposing an onerous he German offshore Industry is hoping grid compensation law charge on the Irish offshore sector is struggling to developer” that would make Traise finance, threatening will break logjam, writes Dan Billingham export impossible. “The Irish government plans to build more government would look very than 10GW by 2020. problems are complicated by Nordergründe wind farm, which stupid if they did that.” The industry expects no the painfully slow construction will cost more than €300m, and Britton called on Dublin to more than 7GW of installed of the 400MW Bard Offshore 1 is willing to offer a complete ensure that export for all sizes capacity by the end of the wind farm where costs have sale. Construction is scheduled of offshore development is decade, according to a survey soared from €1.5bn to an for the third quarter of 2013, made possible by allowing a by wind eye-watering €2.5bn. leaving little time for further combination of statistical lobby group The developer was hoping to delay on the financing front. transfer, direct connection and WAB. wrap up a sale in the spring. Germany’s offshore woes go further interconnection. Over the Movement is needed before beyond fundraising. Trianel is In the meantime, southern past year, construction can start at the close to completing foundation developers are looking with several projects have either company’s 400MW Veja Mate installation at its 200MW frustration north of the border, been put on hold or are project, which currently faces a Borkum West 2 first phase. At according to Britton. anxiously seeking finance three-year delay until 2017. the same time it is trying to “Five years ago Northern against a background of delayed WPD is another developer claw back losses of at least Ireland wasn’t at the races. You grid connections. Dong Energy, that has spent the year trying €50m that will arise from grid have a clear example in NI of for example, recently put the to tie up financial backing for connection delays. what can be achieved when the 346MW Borkum Riffgrund 2 an imminent project, this time The consequences of this government department up proposal “back in the the €1bn Butendiek site. The uncertainty are having a direct there works with the minister, development pipeline”. company is hoping to maintain a impact on the supply chain. The works with the development Bard has spent the best part minority stake. Nordseewerke shipyard, a agencies… and works with the of 2012 looking for investors to EnergieKontor is also keen to tripod foundation industry.” buy the company, although its attract investors to its 108MW fabricator, was forced to 18 ERM Renewables Supporting the wind industry

• Site selection Contact: Simon Hewitt • Planning advice T: +44 20 3206 5211 • EIA E: [email protected] • Consultation • Permitting • Due diligence • Risk and safety

Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world

www.reNews.biz 18 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

17 file for insolvency last Blame game for grid chaos month when it was unable to confirm an order evelopers have struggled provisionally planned for 2013 to complete wind farms GERMAN NORTH SEA CONNECTIONS with one of the wind farms that Din 2012 against a Grid hub MW Online Projects due to connect is awaiting financial closure. background of near complete BorWin1 400 2009 Bard Offshore 1 Plans to attract private uncertainty over the connection BorWin2 800 2015 Global Tech 1, Veja Mate finance for a new offshore wind regime. base at Bremerhaven fell Transmission operator BorWin3 900 tbc Albatros 1, Hohe See through in September with local TenneT said a year ago that it DolWin1 800 2013 Borkum West 2, MEG 1, Borkum public funding likely to be used was unable to finance any new Riffgrund instead. grid infrastructure after 2015 DolWin2 900 2015 Delta Nordsee 1&2, Gode Wind 1&2 The financial crisis should be while also warning that a DolWin3 900 tbc Borkum Riffgrund 2, Borkum eased by a proposed law on number of offshore hub projects Riffgrund West compensating developers for currently under construction connection delays. Once HelWin1 576 2014 Meerwind Sud/Ost, Nordsee Ost would be delayed. passed, a number of wind farms The company informed HelWin2 690 2015 Amrumbank West could come off the shelf such as clients about expected hold-ups SylWin1 864 2014 Butendiek, DanTysk, Sandbank WindMW’s proposed 320MW on one of its hubs, DolWin1, on Nördlicher Grund. no less than three occasions this for HelWin 1 after the latest experience. The company hopes WAB chief executive Ronny year, pushing the estimated delay notice was issued in June. to reduce issues in the future Meyer said he expects the completion date back a total of The developer is working on the by building standardised 900MW legislation to spark investment eight months from February to assumption its 295MW Nordsee facilities. that has been withheld due to October 2013. Ost site can be connected in A contributing factor is a uncertainty over grid links. The 576MW HelWin1 and 2014. Paul Coffey, RWE chief lack of clarity in the approval However, further trouble is 800MW BorWin2 hubs are also operating officer, called the process, as are rigid lurking over the horizon in the subject to major delays grid situation “a mess”. environmental laws that shape of feed-in tariffs. totalling up to 24 months from The delays have been blamed demand the use of noise Current supports call for the original connection dates in on the scale of the technical reduction technology on the consumers to pay a minimum of 2012 even though initial work challenge. HelWin1 and BorWin2 platforms. 15 cents per kWh for power for started more than a year ago. contractor Siemens said the Unfavourable North Sea the first 20 years of an offshore RWE has yet to gain a final problems have partially been weather currently only allows wind farm’s operation. Vice connection date from TenneT overcome as it gains offshore work between May and Chancellor Philip Rösler has September, providing a knock- spoken of a desire to abolish on effect if installation misses the tariffs and environment this window. minister Peter Altmaier has Newer connection projects proposed lowering them. have proved less problematic so “These messages create far. SylWin1 is running just a critical uncertainties for few months late and is set for international investors,” said completion in spring 2014. It Meyer. “We don’t expect much will connect the Butendiek and investment to come in the next DanTysk wind farms. year until the federal election HelWin2, which will connect in autumn 2013, which will Eon’s 288MW Amrumbank West hopefully bring clarity on the to the German grid and offers future of feed-in tariffs.” 690MW of capacity, is currently The government’s failure to on time and set for an early get the policy framework right, 2015 finish. given the country’s ambitious While progress has been goals for offshore wind, is made on construction delays, something of a puzzle. problems in the tendering Politicians representing process for connections further constituencies in northern down the line, caused by a lack Germany, where ports servicing of finance at TenneT, pose a the offshore sector are located, new threat. said colleagues from the south EnBW has postponed taking a of failing to provide enough final investment decision on its support. planned 400MW Hohe See wind Erwin Sellering, the prime farm, due to come online in minister of Mecklenburg– 2017, because the BorWin3 Vorpommern, has accused the connection project is behind federal consumer minister Ilse schedule in the tendering Aigner, who hails from Bavaria, phase. of drawing on anti-northern bias Strabag is unable to put a to limit the amount consumers start and finish date on will pay to compensate its 345MW Albatros farm, 19 developers for grid delays.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 19

which is set to share the Waiting for a date: work is 18 same connection. continuing on the much delayed Developers have reacted HelWin1 offshore transformer with anger to the continued platform, including provision of connection delays. Trianel corrosion protection from declared last month that it Cathelco Photo: Cathelco would launch a legal claim against TenneT to recover concerned it will be unable to losses incurred on its first-phase find insurance cover for its Borkum West 2 wind farm. offshore compensation Windreich filed a lawsuit commitments without this over the offshore connection change. due for its 210MW Deutsche TenneT would also like its Bucht wind farm, which is also maximum compensation bill suffering tendering delays. reduced and a greater share of This was subsequently costs to be passed on to dropped, however, after consumers. Only then will it be TenneT agreed to link the farm able to attract the outside temporarily to BorWin2, which investment needed to avoid is scheduled for completion in further havoc to the connection 2014. schedule, it argues. The German parliament is RWE’s Coffey warned that as set to enact a new law on compensation starts after the useful”. TenneT opposes a plan the legislation stands, projects compensating developers for 11th day that a wind farm is that will force it to provide up that have qualified for grid connection delays in the fully operational without a grid to €100m in compensation to “unconditional grid New Year. A fierce debate is connection. each wind farm in cases where connections” before a 31 August raging about how the burden Keeping a constructed only minor negligence can be 2012 deadline will be entitled should be shared and project ‘live’ before a grid proved. to new connection developers are unsatisfied with connection is made will require It has called for equality arrangements, including the a promise of only 90% of the the use of back-up generators with the onshore delay law, added comfort of compensation electricity price they would to power turbines and the where major negligence must in the event of delays. have realised from a connected internal hub station, an idea be committed by a transmission Later projects, however, will wind farm via feed-in tariffs. that Trianel has called “neither operator for compensation to have less certainty and avenues The law proposes that economically nor ecologically be payable. The company is for recourse, he added.

over 250 experts providing a one stop shop for full lifecycle offshore project development

Planning & Development Construction Ecology & Hydrology Asset Management Wind Technical Due Diligence

for international offshore expertise, providing comprehensive, proven solutions and unique experience-based insight that few others can match [email protected] naturalpower.com/offshore

WIND MARINE BIOMASS OFFSHORE WIND

www.reNews.biz 20 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Developers take on the challenge More than 4GW of capacity is heading for commissioning in the North Sea by 2016 onstruction is on the up in installed on schedule by the the German North Sea middle of October. The full set Calthough teething of 40 foundations is on course problems and grid delays to be in by the end of 2012 with continue to push schedules the help of the SHL heavylift towards the end of the decade vessels Stanislav Yudin and Oleg at many sites. Strashnov. A total of 4100MW of The first Areva 5MW turbine capacity is currently set to be will be installed at the built by 2016, including Bard’s beginning of 2013 with Trianel long-delayed Offshore 1 wind expecting to wrap up work in farm. More than 40 of 80 the second quarter. A wait for turbines are likely to be in at the DolWin1 connection to be the project before the year-end completed is then likely before with the developer indicating the 200MW wind farm can go that weather conditions and online in October 2013 at the high waves have hampered earliest. installation work some 101km Coming online around the from shore. same time should be Windreich’s 2013 start-up: the last of 30 monopile foundations was installed at The wind farm is now due to 400MW Global Tech 1, despite EWE’s 108MW Riffgat wind farm in September Photo: EWE be completed at the end of starting foundations work later. 2013 or beginning of 2014, a The first tripod, produced by a of Nordseewerke, which has cabling completed in the full two years behind the initial WeserWind and EEW joint been contracted to fabricate autumn. schedule. venture, was installed in August half the 80 foundations, will not Global Tech 1 was to have Construction of Trianel’s with the help of Hochtief and upset its schedule. The first of connected to BorWin2 but at Borkum West 2 first phase has GeoSea vessel Innovation. the farm’s Areva 5MW turbines least 200MW is now expected to progressed with the first 19 Windreich is confident that will be installed by Innovation link temporarily through Weserwind tripod foundations even the threatened insolvency next February with export the BorWin1 platform, 21

60+ Exhibitors 800+ Participants Scotland’s Largest Offshore Wind Event 29 & 30 JAN 2013 This FREE event is Scotland’s largest ever Offshore wind & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition and will debate, discuss and defi ne the way FREE EVENT forward for this industry. The conference will celebrate the huge progress of this growing industry, showcasing how Scotland is building on decades of offshore engineering experience to deliver a renewable energy revolution.

The event will address the key issues facing Scotland’s offshore wind industry including:

ǩ Cost reduction, are we on target for 2020? Don’t miss the chance to engage in ǩ The impact of the new fi nancial landscape the debate and fi nd out how your ǩ Challenges and opportunities of coordinated offshore organisation can be at the heart of grid networks ǩ Internationalising Scotland’s supply chain Scotland’s most exciting growth industry. ǩ The new Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Centre ǩ Progress reports from project and technology developers’ Exhibition Packages: £650 - £950*

Conference Breakfast | Supply Chain Event | Drinks Reception | New Conference Dinner | Exhibition & Showcase

*Rates exclude VAT www.scottishrenewables.com

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 21

although maritime Ambau foundations piled in with preferred 5MW Areva machines, Riffgrund 1 go live in the same 20 regulator BSH has yet to the help of the Seajacks vessel is also due for a 2014 finish with year. Both farms will again approve the plan. Global Tech Zaratan. Siemens is providing 80 foundation work starting in feature Siemens 3.6MW will revert to BorWin2 once the of its 3.6MW turbines. April 2013. hardware. grid hub is completed. RWE Innogy’s 295MW Nordsee EnergieKontor’s 110.7MW Windreich will wait until EWE will bring 108MW online Ost will share a grid connection Nordergründe is pencilled in for January 2014 to kick off in 2013 at its Riffgat wind farm with Meerwind. The developer completion in 2014. The project foundation work for its 210MW after the last of 30 monopile installed the first foundation in needs to tie up financing before Deutsche Bucht project but foundations was planted during September using its in-house construction can proceed, plans to have its usual Areva September. Export cabling is vessel Victoria Mathias. A set of which is currently planned to 5MW turbines set up and scheduled for spring 2013 after 6MW Repower turbines will go start in the third quarter of delivering power by 2015. a transformer platform is up to coincide with the 2013. Repower 6.15MW turbines RWE has promised to make a delivered in February. eventual grid connection at the have been lined up. decision in early 2013 on Siemens 3.6MW turbines will project. WPD is seeking financial whether its 332MW Innogy arrive in spring with the aim of Vattenfall will try to bring close on Butendiek, where Nordsee 1 will be built. commissioning in the third the 288MW Dan Tysk online in 288MW of Siemens 3.6MW Completion with 6.15MW quarter of 2013. early 2014 with Siemens 3.6MW turbines are tabled to go online Repower turbines is planned for WindMW’s 288MW Meerwind turbines. Foundation work is in 2015. 2016. is also due online in 2013 should scheduled to start in December A start to foundation The second phase of 200MW a grid connection arrive in 2012. installation in 2013 should see at Trianel’s Borkum West 2 time. Work on the water started Windreich’s 400MW MEG 1, Eon’s 288MW Amrumbank West project is also scheduled for a last month with the first three again using the developer’s and Dong’s 277MW Borkum 2016 finish.

Smoother sailing in the Baltic Sea roponents of 19 offshore Pwind projects totalling more than 5000MW have applied for grid connections with Baltic Sea system operator 50Hertz, writes our Baltic correspondent. Installed capacity could reach up to 3000MW in the next 10 years and, given TenneT’s difficulties in the North Sea, there is a growing belief the region is a more favourable development option. 50Hertz completed its initial connection for EnBW’s 50MW Baltic 1 wind farm in 2011. The second will be at the same company’s 288MW Baltic 2, which will connect to the Baltic 1 offshore transformer platform via two 60km cables and then to shore at Bentwisch. The transmission system operator is due to install the wires by next February. Initial foundations at Baltic 2, a mix of monopiles and jackets, are due in this year. First power from 80 Siemens 3.6MW turbines is scheduled in 2013. KNK Wind’s 384MW Arcadis Ost 1 is due for start-up by the end of 2016. The output will be exported to shore via a 32km export wire. Also on the 50Hertz radar are Iberdrola’s 400MW Wikinger wind farm, Eon’s 150MW Beta Baltic, and BEC Energie Consult’s 155MW Adlergrund GAP.

www.reNews.biz 22 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Rich subsidy comes with risks First-round licence winners have a year FRENCH OFFSHORE LINE-UP to survey their sites, writes Lisa Louis Round 1 enerous feed-in tariffs feed-in tariff well above the Project MW Developer Capex designed to secure international average, that Courseulles, Normandy 450 EMF €1.8bn GFrance’s offshore wind subsidy will increase drastically Fecamp, Normandy 498 EMF €2bn revolution could spark once the first offshore wind Saint-Brieuc, Brittany 500 Ailes Marines €2bn resistance against the sector on farms are commissioned. Saint-Nazaire, Brittany 500 EMF €2bn the home front, it is feared. “This could cause a real Paris has a target of 6000MW acceptability problem for Round 1.5 of installed capacity by 2020 renewables,” he warned. Le Treport, Normandy 705 To be tendered with four Siemens joined forces with a licences GDF-led consortium to bid for Nourmoutier, Vendee 600 To be tendered totalling the first round of French Eolien Maritime France (EMF) comprises EDF, Dong, WPD and Alstom. Ailes 2000MW offshore for the up to 750MW Le Marines comprises Iberdrola, Areva, Eole-RES and Technip already Treport project but the Prugnat, who said there is now suppliers for their four projects awarded and a further 1.4GW government said their offer was widespread market consensus to the government. moving towards the tender too expensive and dropped the that France will fail to reach its The Spanish company, working stage. zone from the initial tender. 6000MW goal. as Ailes Marines alongside However, megawatt-hour The German giant plans to Meanwhile, successful partners Areva, Eole-RES and payments that could run to be involved in the upcoming bidders from Round 1 have Technip, started seismic €200m put the country near the Round 1.5, which is due to be started taking to Atlantic and investigations at the site of the top of the European league in tendered later this year and English Channel waters as they 500MW Saint-Brieuc wind farm terms of state supports. includes a rerun at Le Treport prepare pre-construction works. off Brittany earlier this year. “French consumers are and the 600MW Noirmoutier Consortia led by EDF and Belgian company GeoSea (currently) paying a renewable site. “We do believe in the Iberdrola have 12 months to completed geophysical work in energy tax that is still relatively future of the French offshore complete geotechnical, September and geotechnical low,” said Arnaud Prugnat, who wind energy market but its geophysical and environmental studies this month. Cone is in charge of French offshore development will fall short of studies. Two months later they penetration tests were wind at Siemens. “But with a government expectations,” said will submit complete lists of carried out at 11 planned 23

Save the Dates for the Most Essential Wind Energy Events of 2013!

www.WINDPOWERexpo.org WWW.OFFSHOREWINDEXPO.ORG

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 23

locations. The studies across the portfolio. The 22 contractor has been geophysical studies include Seismic investigations: using survey vessel Ixplorer and hydrographic, geomagnetic and Geosea vessel Goliath self-elevating DP2 jack-up seismic surveys. on site at Saint-Brieuc platform Goliath. Results from The successful bidder will Photo: Symorg the investigations will inform carry out shallow penetration foundation design at the tests and samplings, deep 100-turbine project. penetration boreholes, and Consortium member Areva pre-investigation UXO clearance will supply 5MW turbines to surveys. The studies will Saint-Brieuc. The manufacturer complete data being collected has lined up Longvic-based since 2007. The consortium has Ceole to provide the towers. also been contracting out Jacket foundations will be environmental studies to up to produced by French companies 20 different companies. STX or Eiffage, which hold EMF is currently tendering preliminary contracts with Ailes for business and management Marines. consulting services. The Contractor In Vivo is consortium is looking for conducting environmental specialists in design, impact studies. The consultant environmental, commercial and will put together a list of fish electronics. species, mammals and birds present at the project site in co-operation with French research institute IFREMER. The survey will take up to two years. The consortium has also erected a lidar met device at the Grand Lejon lighthouse near Realising offshore the project site. French contractor MeteOcean energy infrastructure Consulting has been hired to carry out wave and tidal Van Oord is a world class dredging and marine contractor with over a decade of experience in the offshore wind industry as a studies, which will kick off in leading marine installation contractor in North Western Europe. the coming weeks. Van Oord’s specialised division ‘Offshore Wind Projects’ offers The €2bn Saint-Brieuc wind both EPC main contracting and construction services to the farm is located 10km offshore. offshore wind industry. It is part of our strategy to play an Construction work is due to kick important role in the worldwide offshore wind energy market and to contribute to the CO emission reduction goals. off in 2017 and be finished by 2 2020. Waters at the site are up www.vanoord.com to 35 metres deep. EDF-led consortium Eolien Maritime France, which includes Dong and WPD, is building three projects. The 480MW Saint- Nazaire wind farm off Brittany will cost €2bn and comprise 80 Alstom 6MW turbines, which will be erected in up to 32 metres of water. EMF’s two other developments, the 450MW Courseulles-sur-Mer and 498MW Fecamp, are situated in the English Channel. They will cost €1.8bn and €2bn, respectively, and include 75 and 83 Alstom 6MW turbines. The wind farms are located between 10km and 14km off the Offshore Wind Projects coast. Waters are up to 20 Engineering Procurement Construction Equipment Belwind Phase I metres deep. Installation works at all three offshore projects will start in 2017 and are due to be completed by 2019. EMF is currently tendering geotechnical and geophysical

www.reNews.biz 24 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Grid operator RTE laying Timing mists shroud future out connection strategy tender rounds rench transmission system this year. Subsea cable will then carry out he French government operator RTE has production and the offshore environmental impact studies. Trefuses to be drawn on a Fsubmitted technical and installation works could be The company expects to precise timeline for the financial offers to EMF and Ailes assigned either separately or to obtain all the necessary country’s promised future Marines for the connection of a single contractor. The tenders construction permits and begin offshore wind licensing rounds. their offshore wind farms. The for onshore cables and installation works by early “It is too early to give any developers have until next transformer stations will be 2016. The grid connections are additional information. We will month to accept the bids. launched in 2014 or 2015. scheduled to be up and running do so in the coming months,” The grid provider has also A consultation period on the with half their capacity by said a spokesperson at the made initial contact with cable routes will open early 2018. The remainder will be Ministry of Ecology. possible subsea cable suppliers. next year. RTE will define completed one year later. Two months have elapsed Half a dozen manufacturers corridors up to 500 metres wide Connections will use 225kV since a second tender, dubbed have been invited to participate for each power line and submit AC cables between 40km and Round 1.5 by industry players, in a qualification process. its plans to market participants, 60km long. The wind farm was announced and bidding Interested players will local fishermen, associations developers will have to foot the criteria have yet to be provide a cable prototype for and politicians. Planning for bill, which will amount to up to published. A third tender with a RTE to test. “We are hoping this each wind farm will be €200m per line. maximum capacity of 3000MW is will make it easier for us to pick supervised by the relevant RTE has a 15-strong offshore planned for the second half of the right candidate during the prefects. team that includes engineers 2013. tender later on,” said Eric RTE is hoping to get approval and commercial personnel. The Market participants are Fournier, head of RTE’s offshore for the cable corridors by last subsea connection the becoming increasingly impatient division. October 2013 and a go-ahead French provider installed was a and openly question whether The company will start the for the definitive routes in the power line between France and France will be able to stick to bidding process by the end of first quarter of 2014. The utility England in the 1980s. its target of 6000MW of installed offshore capacity by Photo: Alstom 2020. “It takes us several years to go through the administrative process before we can even begin constructing our offshore wind farms,” one developer said. “The government really needs to get on with it.” Round 1.5 includes the 600MW Noirmoutier project situated about 15km off the Atlantic coast where waters are up to 35 metres deep. The tender also includes the 705MW Le Tréport wind farm 15km off the coast in the English Channel with water depths of up to 25 metres. Developers such as French energy giant GDF, which missed out on Round 1, as well as established players including 6MW Haliade turbine earning its spurs Vattenfall and Mainstream are lstom, which is supplying offshore wind vice president are now expected to begin early expected to participate in Aturbines for EMF’s three Frederic Hendrick. next year. future rounds. projects, is currently putting its “Our turbine has already Alstom is still waiting for the Possible alliances have yet to new 6MW Haliade turbine produced 5MW of energy and we foundation to be delivered by emerge with one developer through its paces at the Carnet are now hoping for some bad Iemants, which took on the suggesting formal arrangements onshore test site in Loire- weather in order to reach the order after parent company will wait for the official bidding Atlantique (pictured). maximum power of 6MW,” he Smulders went into criteria to be published. “So far reality has been in added. Once the maximum administration, and faced However, at least one, the line with our simulations. We capacity is reached, delays as a result. EDF-led EMF consortium, have only encountered some certification of the turbine will The turbine constructor plans appears content to stick with minor problems and were able take another year. to kick off pre-serial production its current line-up. “Never to iron them out by changing a Offshore trials of the Haliade of Haliade by the end of 2013 or change a winning team,” said couple of technical 150 in Belgian waters have been early 2014. Serial production is Frederic Hendrick of group parameters,” said Alstom delayed by several months and expected in 2014. member Alstom.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 25 Industrial revolution on French coastline Turbine manufacturers planning supply chain hubs to service coming build phase

rench harbours and French market, Areva is eyeing suppliers are gearing up to projects in the south of England Fserve the country’s and Belgium. nascent offshore wind market. EDF has reserved 30 hectares The ports of Le Havre, Saint- for a turbine foundation factory Nazaire and Cherbourg will host in Le Havre although a supplier Permit request: the Montoir-de-Bretagne site close to Saint- parts of the supply chain with remains to be appointed. The Nazaire, where Alstom will be building turbine plants to serve the others competing to get a slice harbour will start preparing the French offshore wind sector Photo: Andre Bocquel of the action. site in the second half of next Turbine manufacturer Areva year when the energy company and 12 hectares are available be finished by 2015. GE Power has opened an offshore wind will apply for a building permit. for the offshore wind industry. Conversion is lined up to office in Le Havre with a team STX will supply jacket The city has invested €10m in provide the generators and of four people. It has already foundations for Areva from its the latter, which could host an converters for the turbines. found French suppliers for three factory in Saint-Nazaire. The offshore hub. Cherbourg’s 220-metre Quay quarters of its components and French fabricator is also Longvic-based CEOLE is lined des Flamands will be extended continues to meet with considering entering the market up to provide the Areva towers. to 580 metres. Vinci subsidiary companies in the pursuit of for monopile and gravity The company is likely to Soletanche Bachy will make the 100% local content. foundations. STX could supply construct a new plant quay suitable to tackle loads of Areva will lease 60 hectares transition pieces, transformer somewhere on the French up to 15 tones per square metre. in Le Havre and build blade and stations and installation vessels. coast. Work kicks off early next year. nacelle factories. At least 700 Alstom has applied for a The port of Cherbourg will French metal constructor direct jobs will be created. construction permit for nacelle host two Alstom suppliers. LM Eiffage and Dutch group The harbour authorities are and generator factories in Wind will produce blades and Smulders are talking about currently testing the soil and Montoir-de-Bretagne next to another company, still to be constructing tower and will start upgrading the land Saint-Nazaire. Construction designated, will assembly foundation plants in and quay by 2014. The factories works will kick off in the turbine towers. The plants will Cherbourg or Brest. “But 26 will be built from 2015 on with coming weeks and be finished in serial production kicking off in 12 months. Up to 300 direct 2016. jobs will be created. We provide recruitment solutions to Areva plans to produce 100 The harbour town has put of its 5MW turbines per year at together the bidding criteria for market leading companies in the complex. The units will be a new 350-metre quay next to trialled at a test bench for 2.5 the nacelle factory. The €40m Offshore Wind Power days each. tender will be launched in “Testing of our production January and the planned facility Whether your’re recruiting for your next project or looking for your next turbines provides not only full will be suitable for loads of up opportunity, with 16 offices across 5 continents we’re well placed to help you. quality to our customers, it to 400 tonnes. saves time during installation at Saint-Nazaire has closed a We are working in partnership with leading organisations recruiting for sea because some €15m deal with two companies projects across development, construction & operation of offshore wind commissioning is already done to relocate an existing floating farms. Current contract and permanent vacancies are within various at the plant,” said Philipp pontoon to free up space for engineering disciplines as well as Project Management, Kavafyan, director of Areva the new quay. Work commences Commercial and Leadership roles with companies Wind in France. in January. spanning the entire offshore wind supply chain. The company intends to The harbour has cleared 14 supply turbines with a total hectares to accommodate Contact us to find out more: capacity of 12GW from its new Alstom’s factories in a €20m factories. In addition to the operation. Two other sites of 20 +44 (0)20 8315 9400 [email protected] FRENCH PORTS OF CALL www.networkersplc.com

Port Tenant Activity Brest Seeking tenants for 40 hectares of port facilities Cherbourg Alstom Towers LM Wind Blades for Alstom Dunkirk Seeking tenants for 15 hectares of port facilities Le Havre Areva Blades and nacelles EDF contractor Foundations Networkers International PLC Saint-Nazaire Alstom Nacelles and generators STX Foundations International Expertise | Local Knowledge | Specialist Insight www.reNews.biz 26 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

we will only do so if we 25 receive orders for at least 250 jacket foundations InControl lives up to and 350 towers over the next five years,” said Eiffage’s Arnaud Devillepin. He added that the companies are in its name off Belgium negotiations with both French elgian offshore pioneer Developer is taking a hybrid contracting licence winners. InControl is aiming to Dunkirk harbour is also Bstart full-blown approach at Northwind as it starts clock gearing up for the French development work on the on Belwind 2, writes Will Wachtmeister offshore sector, in addition to 165MW Belwind 2 next January. positioning itself for projects on The second-phase project that year. The project has an team for Northwind this summer the UK east coast. Facilities has been waiting in the wings added economic challenge. using what it called the include a 300-metre quay and for several Under Belgium’s current support ”contract novation” approach, an adjacent 15-hectare area. years. Its system, transmission system a hybrid of pure multi- Other home-team companies emerging operator Elia has to purchase contracting and engineering, eyeing the offshore wind schedule is green power certificates at €107 procurement, commissioning market include Louis Dreyfus partly driven per MWh from an offshore wind and installation models. Armateurs, which could provide by the opportunity to stagger farm’s first 216MW but beyond The company selected and transport, cable installation and construction with the that it falls to €90. negotiated the project’s maintenance services with one developer’s 216MW Northwind, This means 114MW of sub-contractor structure, which of its vessels. which is due for completion in Belwind 2, which will join the is typically handled by the EPCI The logistics outfit is also the summer of 2014. operational 165MW Belwind 1 in contractor. offering to help design and InControl director Frank the same permitting zone, will InControl negotiated 16 operate a jack-up vessel suitable Coenen said: “Giving timelines fall in the lower support price supply, installation and for the offshore wind sector. is always risky since these are category. construction packages with Cable supplier Nexans is huge investments but we are The Northwind site, which is suppliers and then brought positioned to supply and install provisionally aiming for expected to enter construction together and reformatted, or inter-array and export cables. financial close on Belwind 2 next April, will eventually “novated”, the contracts into The company is in touch with around January or February of feature a cable tie-in with six bankable packages. EDF, Iberdrola, Dong, GDF and 2014.” Belwind 2 to create added Coenen said: “Our approach RTE about possible future This would allow construction export redundancy, Coenen said. is to be in control of a tenders. to begin towards the end of InControl put together its project through the 27

Offshore Wind. Delivered. With over 225 turbine installations to date, Seajacks has the knowledge, experience and people to ensure your wind farm project is installed successfully and safely. For more information on Seajacks and the services we offer, call +44 (0) 1493 418070 or email [email protected] seajacks.com

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 27

26 entire lifecycle on behalf of investors and Giant strides at banks. We have experts in development, engineering, contracting, financing, construction and operation, and Thorntonbank 2 our greatest quality is to be nstallation progress at the round of installation starts. able to manage all these phases IThorntonbank 2 wind farm off “Although we’ve finished early in a consolidated, and therefore Belgium surpassed even the we deliberately decided not to risk-controlled, manner.” project team’s raised build between October and The outcome was a €900m expectations this year. March because of weather project, €750m of which is for A total of 30 Repower 6M downtime risks and we also hardware and installation. The turbines went in from March to wanted a spare period for remaining costs are August, six more than originally unexpected problems.” development, insurance, planned. The 6.15MW machines, Another reason is the construction financing as well as currently the largest in the financing set-up, which foresees bank and advisor fees. world, are expected to be fully revenues from phase two before Vestas will supply and install commissioned by mid- construction spending on phase 72 V112 3MW turbines. GeoSea November. three starts. is handling supply and “In terms of construction this “We saw that we could go installation of foundations and was our most important year quicker (by adding six turbines) inter-array cables. Jan De Nul because a lot of things had to but it was also a matter of will dredge and install the come together,” said developer aligning the tempo of Nexans-supplied export cable C-Power chief executive Jaak component supply. We also had while a Bladt-Semco-CG Rutten (pictured). to be sure that all sub- partnership will supply and Thorntonbank’s second phase contractors were OK with it.” install the offshore substation. also consisted Thorntonbank has three main Coenen said he believes that of the contractors. DEME is responsible technological innovation being installation of for the production of the jacket developed in the current 48 jacket foundations and all offshore generation of projects will drive foundations, a installation, Repower is future cost reductions. “Just second export supplying the turbines and ABB look at the V112 compared with cable and the manufactured the cables and Fast-mover: the 184.5MW the V90. That’s a 15% output offshore transformer station. Thorntonbank 2 Photos: C-Power improvement,” he said. substation. Northwind will use GeoSea The export and Hochtief next-generation wire from the installation vessel Innovation. project’s 30MW first phase, Coenen warned, however, that which had run straight to supply chain constraints and landfall, was also re-installed in lack of competition in the cable a delicate operation to connect and offshore transmission sector it into the transformer station. remain a worry for developers. “We’ve completed this “There have been huge year’s work well ahead of time improvements in the and have also done very well in engineering of wind turbines terms of safety,” Rutten said. and in the availability and The third phase comprises 18 capabilities of wind installation Repower 6Ms with installation vessels but there has been far starting early next March with less progress in grid and an expected finish before the cabling,” he said. summer. Parkwind, the Colruyt- The project will again use backed offshore wind DEME’s newbuild installation investment holding company, vessel Neptune, which recently took a stake in performed well on its debut at InControl, which means the phase two this year. “In good developer now has direct access weather the Neptune could load to equity financing. up a turbine in Oostende, sail InControl’s approach is out, install and come back in clearly tailored to Belgium, a two and a half days,” said market typified by project Rutten. finance and limited involvement He defended the significant by utilities, but the company contingency buffer between could soon be broadening its phase two, where the last horizons. Coenen said several turbine was installed in early proponents from around the August, and next-year’s phase world have contacted the three. There could be a gap of company looking for support. six months before the next

www.reNews.biz 28 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Shared Belgian grid to cap costs he next generation of using more innovative Financing slog Belgian offshore wind will technology and those generated Tcome to fruition under a by Elia’s planned offshore new subsidy system and will be network, which could include built with shared offshore one or two shared offshore to concertina transmission infrastructure. substations. The timing of the up to Frank Coenen, who is on the 450MW Norther and the Otary executive committee of the consortium’s Rentel, Seastar Federation of Belgian Offshore Gemini build and Mermaid projects depends Electricity Producers, said he is heavily on the offshore and feeling relaxed about the new Developer Typhoon Capital mulls faster onshore reinforcement regime. construction pace at 600MW Netherlands initiatives being pursued by grid “The Belgian support system operator Elia. does allow stable and profitable wind farm, writes Will Wachtmeister The company last year business but there isn’t a gained the legal competence to massive amount of money to be yphoon Capital has drawn 2014 and 2015, the developer is develop an offshore network made here,” he said. up a contingency plan now mulling two more intensive and the next wave of wind “One of the key drivers for Tthat could push back and six-month phases in 2014 and farms are expected to stagger Belgium is the need to create intensify the construction 2015. The staged timetable is construction from 2015 or 2016 new production capacity in the schedule at its 600MW Gemini required due to environmental onwards. national electricity system as wind farm. restrictions prohibiting At the same time, a well as environmental concerns. The Netherlands project, underwater installation noise in compromise worked out with That these investments and the which will feature 150 Siemens the first half of the year. Belgium’s large industrial power technology to be developed turbines at Typhoon is trying to secure consumers, which complained create important employment is the new €2.6bn in financing for the wind that the current system was not in the forefront of the configuration farm and continues to talk with eroding national Belgian agenda. of 4MW, is potential investors and credit competitiveness, will see ”Other countries, like heading for agencies. The exercise could be support payments adjusted for France, have enough electricity financial close early next year, eased by a €500m loan from the projects after Belwind 2, production capacity (and) in well beyond the previous target European Investment Bank. C-Power and Northwind. these countries employment of summer 2012. Engineering, procurement, The new values will reflect and environmental concerns are Instead of three six-month construction and the savings to be realised by the main drivers,” he said. installation periods in 2013, installation contractor 29

www.cgglobal.com

Transformers. Switchgear. Substations. Integrated solutions. Automation. Engineering Services. With over 75 years of experience in the energy sector, CG is an established manufacturer of threephase distribution and power transformers, and a strong competitor in the market of substations, integrated solutions, automation systems and services. At CG we continually focus on providing smart solutions to our customers’ challenges.

Visit us at EWEA in Vienna booth AF55

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 29

Van Oord has narrowed 28 tendering to around two RWE lays table for 300MW demo bidders per package, sources WE is poised to play a although what technologies will active project in the said. Some of the potential Rleading role in Dutch be on show remains to be seen. Netherlands is Eneco’s 129MW participants are understood to government plans to develop a “We want to define a process Luchterduinen. The need for be from South Korea, where 300MW demonstrator to boost in which we can encourage as additional permitting delayed Typhoon has actively sought out cost-reduction efforts. The many supply chain players (as progress earlier this year. The better lead times and bigger German utility is offering up its we can) to participate.” farm is currently scheduled to capacity from potential Tromp offshore wind concession The Dutch government is enter construction in July 2014 export-oriented suppliers. for the initiative. likely to back further roll-out of and go live in the summer of Typhoon is meanwhile Dutch industry representatives commercial offshore wind once 2015. looking to build on its Dutch and RWE are working with significant cuts in costs have The chances of achieving experience with participation in officials at the economic affairs been secured. A major policy 6000MW by 2020, still an official the UK and German sectors. The ministry to create a “plan of review is scheduled for 2015. government target, are widely company said it plans to take approach”. The new government, Current costs are around doubted. Transmission operator stakes next year in consented which took office last month, €170 per MWh, mainly because TenneT has publicly warned North Sea projects to bring them could approve the plans next the export cable infrastructure that the goal is beyond reach to financial close, followed by year, although other potential is not socialised and therefore due to grid technology full or substantial exit. sites remain in the hunt. falls within a typical project’s constraints and procurement Talks with developers in both RWE, Van Oord and research budget, van Seventer said. “It lead times. jurisdictions have already institute ECN have already seems that the tone in the new National wind energy begun. “We have looked at the installed a met mast and carried government programme is much association NWEA blamed the new (Dutch) government out seabed investigations with more positive towards the previous government for programme and our conclusion promising results at Tromp. offshore wind industry. decision-making delays, which is that there won’t be any new RWE Benelux offshore wind “I don’t think we’ll see a led to higher costs and offshore wind projects in the development manager Laut van large roll-out but it says that “insurmountable” problems. near future, certainly not next Seventer said the utility wants the government is serious about “Politicians have to finally year,” a Typhoon spokesman to help kick-start the Dutch reaching cost reductions so I take their responsibility and do said. sector and contribute to believe there will be room for it now,” said NWEA director Ton The incoming government ambitions to reduce costs by 40%. investment that combines Hirdes. “An acceleration in has raised renewable energy The demo should serve as a innovation and new offshore decision-making is possible and targets to 16%, he noted, but an starting point for government to wind farms,” he added. that makes a quick restart to imminent offshore rollout has support other projects in the Aside from Gemini and the offshore wind possible. It’s a not been secured. Dutch North Sea, he said, demonstrator, the only other question of political will.”

www.reNews.biz 30 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

enmark’s orderly march towards increasing Doffshore wind capacity Danes dragging their has been disrupted by new government timetables that delay parts of a planned 1500MW build in the years to feet near and far... 2020. Political parties agreed this Government delays offshore timetables the winter for geotechnical week to put off initial work at both sites, which will connection at the 600MW in years to 2020, writes Todd Westbrook be conducted next year. Kriegers Flak The third round of project in environmental work in wind by that date. Exact rules development at Horns Rev, off the Baltic preparation for the wind farms for the offshore tenders remain the west coast of Jutland close Sea by a as per the original schedule uncertain. to Esbjerg, will feature a simple year to 2018 dicated by government in Government officials are radial connection to shore. while March. working to bring down the costs Kriegers Flak’s grid link, on near-shore schemes will also be The company is responsible of future projects compared the other had, is being planned delayed by 12 months to no under the Danish system for with the under-construction as part of a European-funded sooner than January 2017. The overall environmental impact 400MW Anholt site where Dong interconnection effort that is 400MW Horns Rev 3 remains on assessment of the projects as was the only bidder and expected to stitch together the the menu for 2017. well as the grid connection out supports are 105.1 ore per Danish and German networks The national wind industry to and including the megawatt-hour. through what amounts to a association has welcomed the substations. Energinet.dk completed Baltic-based forerunner of an certainty but believes the Tenders for the wind farms initial geophysical surveys on offshore supergrid. delays come at the wrong time, were originally due to be issued the next generation of projects The joint Energinet.dk and particularly given the next year for award no later this year. UK company Gems 50Hertz HVDC network will difficulties of larger markets than 2015 with Horns Rev 3 Survey carried out the work feature an offshore converter such as the UK and Germany emerging first from the process. using specialist vessel MV substation taking AC power and the opportunity to Construction was to have Aquarius. from Kriegers Flak and EnBW’s capitalise on subsequent kicked off in 2017 with full Initial results at the roughly 288MW Baltic 2 wind farm with looseness in the supply chain. power required ahead of 2020 250-square-kilometre Kriegers additional links to the German Transmission operator as part of Danish efforts to Flak site in the Baltic and the company’s operational Baltic 1. Energinet.dk is carrying out produce 50% of electricity from smaller Horns Rev 3 in the DC transmission wires will North Sea identified no then run both to Germany and immediate show-stoppers. A Denmark. Sweden could also tender will be launched over join at a later date. ;OL6ɈZOVYL>PUK0UZ[HSSH[PVU*VU[YHJ[VY Plenty of takers for near-shore projects he Danish government is in Zealand and one off Bornholm Ttalks with local authorities in the Baltic Sea; 16 areas were around the coastline about originally identified. hosting near-shore wind farms The government’s energy totalling 500MW. plan calls for the near-shore Copenhagen officials are wind farms to be up and running speaking with eight different by 2020. A funding mechanism vju localities that have expressed is expected to be detailed an interest in having projects of shortly, along with a refined Presenting Inwind Installer no more than 200MW each built shortlist. Complete and cost effective installation services to the in waters within 20km of shore. Dong’s long-planned offshore wind industry The appetite is very high, demonstrator at a near-shore sources indicated, even in areas site off Frederikshavn featuring ÝÛ Self propelled DP2 jack-up installation vessel where tourism is a key element Vestas hardware remains on the ÝÛ Robust design for harsh operating conditions of the summer economy. “Yes, menu, although it is unlikely ÝÛ Minimized weather downtime some of these are popular this will take place as planned ÝÛ Operating in depths between 15 - 65 meters beach areas but the next year. ÝÛ Suitable for WTG and foundation installation municipalities feel they must do A spokesperson said the two ÝÛ Designed for feeder based and traditional something for year-round companies “are working closely shuttling installation approach residents as well,” said one. together to demonstrate the ÝÛ Two High Capacity Cranes (1200 Te and 500 Te) for safe, Zones in the running include V164 at Frederikshavn” but fast and efficient installation in challenging weather conditions three off the west coast of would not be drawn on exact www.inwind.no Jutland, one off north-east timing for deployment of the Jutland, three to the west of 8MW turbine.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 31

Dong delivers Turbine installation duty: A2Sea vessel Sea Power the goods at with a load for Anholt 400MW Anholt Photo: Dong ong Energy is on track to complete the 400MW DAnholt wind farm off north-east Jutland in autumn 2013. The company had installed 10 complete Siemens 3.6MW turbines at last count with five already connected to the grid and producing power. A total of 111 machines will eventually be installed at the wind farm with 30 scheduled to go up before the end of this year and all turbines due in place by May 2013. Commissioning will run through summer ahead of full operation next autumn. their 50% share in the project expected to report for duty Energinet.dk was responsible “The... weather has been with the cost to Dong of its 50% early in the New Year. for the substation as well as the tough and forced us to intensify stake depending directly on the Ballast Nedam vessel Svanen 28km export cable to shore at the work onshore rather than bill for its construction installed Bladt-built monopiles the Djursland port of Grenaa. offshore but we are still within programme. with Jumbo Offshore handling The 245kV wire was schedule as we are with A2Sea vessel Sea Power has the transition pieces, again fabricated by NKT while Bladt budget,” said Dong. been tackling turbine built by the Danish supplier built the substation topsides Anholt’s capex is expected to installation at Anholt and will under its framework agreement and a joint venture of Pihl & be just shy of Dkr10bn. PKA and be joined by Sea Worker at the with Dong. Nexans supplied Sons and Zublin supplied an PensionDanmark are understood beginning of December. A third 160km of 34kV infield wires, innovative steel jacket to have paid roughly Dkr6bn for A2Sea vessel, Sea Jack, is which were installed by VSMC. featuring a concrete caisson.

^^^ÄMLYLUL^HISLZPUUV]H[PVUJLU[YLJV\R

:P[\H[LKH[[OLOLHY[VM:JV[SHUK»Z,HZ[*VHZ[ ;OLUH[\YHSOVTLMVY [OL9LUL^HISLZ0UUV]H[PVU*LU[YLPZWHY[VM[OL PU[LYUH[PVUHSS`HJJSHPTLK,ULYN`7HYR-PML :JV[SHUK»Z9LUL^HISL Combining state-of-the-art business facilities and the latest in sustainable design, this landmark development provides everything your company needs to grow in ,ULYN`:LJ[VY the fast-moving Renewables Sector. ‹ -SL_PISLZWHJLMYVTT2[VT2 +VU»[Q\Z[[HRLV\Y^VYKMVYP[JVTLHUKZLL P[MVY`V\YZLSM ‹ ()9,,(4,_JLSSLU[YH[LKI\PSKPUNWV^LYLKI`  SV^JHYIVU YLUL^HISL[LJOUVSVNPLZ ‹ ([[YHJ[P]L ÅL_PISLSLHZPUN[LYTZ ‹ *VTT\UHSUL[^VYRPUNHYLH^P[OZ[\UUPUNZLH]PL^Z

(KL]LSVWTLU[I` Contact )HYIHYH>OP[PUN3LHK6MÄJLY¶9LUL^HISLZ 0U]LZ[PU-PML9LUL^HISLZ,THPS!IHYIHYH^OP[PUN'ÄMLNV]\R VY;LS!  ext 492184.

www.reNews.biz 32 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Eon puts Sweden back in the game Foundations all in at new project after long hiatus, writes Will Wachtmeister

on Sverige has completed Installation of 16 Vestas 3MW foundation installation at V112 turbines is scheduled to Ethe 48MW Karehamn wind begin in May using MPI jack-up farm, a milestone in the Discovery. country’s tentative return to Karehamn proves that the offshore sector following a profitable projects can be built four-year absence. under the Swedish subsidy The project is entering a regime, said a spokesman for construction lull lasting to next the developer, but he cautioned March when contractor Baltic against concluding that others Offshore will start work on a could follow. Milestone: Karehamn’s gravity base foundations head out Photo: Eon 20km offshore export cable. “Karehamn shows that if you find the right location with the right conditions you can move ahead with your project. But let me underline Karehamn... can be regarded as an exception,” he said. “In a very general way, we don’t see the absolute need for any specific policy changes. But to support the Swedish offshore business and drive projects Pioneers lead forward we would like to discuss a joint political will and where others common political framework.” Eon has started investigating follow. conditions at its Sodra Midsjobanken site, which could accommodate 300 turbines MPI Offshore’s fleet of towards the end of the decade. purpose-built wind turbine The surveying is being installation vessels and carried out by an innovative experienced team make for tripile jack-up ‘mobile met a world leader in offshore mast’ based on a design by wind installation. Marcon Wind Power that can be moved around the site. Eon’s up www.mpi-offshore.com to 90MW Utgrundet II project remains parked, the spokesman added. Elsewhere, Vattenfall could take a final investment decision next year on a unique repowering project at Sweden’s Yttre Stengrund offshore wind farm. The utility said it is actively investigating ways to swap out the five existing NEG Micon 2MW turbines and replace them with modern machines. “Assuming the project gets the all clear to move forward with procurement and it is shown to be profitable, Vattenfall’s management will be able to take an investment decision in 2013 at the earliest,” a spokesperson said.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 33 Innovation ‘worth helping FUTURE PROJECT PIPELINE Project MW Developer hand from Swedish grid’ Finngrunden 1110 WPD evelopers including WPD certificate framework as long as Kattegatt Offshore 282 Favonius argue that the the grid connection is kept Kriegers Flak 640 Vattenfall deployment of new outside the project’s budget D Sodra Midsjobanken 700 Eon cost-saving techniques and a and is instead considered part change to Sweden’s grid regime of the main network.” Stora Middelgrunden 864 Universal Wind would allow them to build their This is a reasonable Storgrundet 265 WPD projects. approach, she said, considering Taggen 300 Vattenfall/Hanobukten The German company is what neighbouring countries Trolleboda 150 Vattenfall moving up a gear at the fully Denmark and Germany are consented 265MW Storgrundet doing. “Nor is it unreasonable Utgrunden 2 90 Eon site in the northern Baltic, when you consider the which it has been developing development of other networks system, which is technology waters of inland seas like the since 2005. in Sweden. neutral, ensures that the Baltic, Bergqvist said. Soil sampling and cone “For example the Gotland cheapest projects are built The approach offers savings penetration tests were carried Cable, which will move onshore first. “It’s a healthy system but of around 30% compared to out this summer in the hope wind power from Gotland to the doesn’t drive the development North Sea technology and can central government would offer mainland, is financed collectively of environmental technology,” also be exported to other specific support for offshore through (transmission system Bergqvist said. relatively calm European wind in the near future. operator) Svenska Kraftnat.” “The system does not give waters, she said. The tests showed, among WPD’s hopes of building Swedish players the potential to However, the Swedish other things, that gravity-base Storgrundet were boosted this establish themselves in offshore government’s September foundations are feasible but the autumn when the government wind energy with concepts budget lacked any support project holds the promise of said it expects the project to be developed on the home market measures for the offshore wind innovation and cost-cutting included in Svenska Kraftnat’s for later export.” industry. across the board if and when it planning for network Sweden has the potential to Bergqvist said the innovation reaches construction. investments. achieve something big by message will eventually hit WPD director Charlotte As matters stand, however, developing offshore wind home. “We believe that we will Bergqvist said: “We can see the wind farm will not reach technologies designed find ways both to influence the ourselves realising our project the construction stage. specifically for projects like politicians or make the projects within the (Swedish) electricity Sweden’s electricity certificate Storgrundent in the calmer fly in other ways.”

1GW consented, 15GW on the way

Consenting projects in Wind, Wave and Tidal Power.

Project feasibility, EIA, planning and consenting. Health and safety, port studies, project management. Onshore coastal and offshore technical services.

Alistair Davison E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)131 561 2298 royalhaskoningdhv.com

www.reNews.biz 34 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

orway’s domestic platforms will feature turbines offshore wind market has Technology exports larger than the original Siemens Nbeen holed by low energy 2.3MW unit with blades of up to prices and the country’s 60 metres. The floating spar technology-neutral green keep hopes afloat foundation is also evolving and certificate scheme. will extend just 80 metres That has left local players beneath the surface rather than largely focused on exporting for Norwegian wind 100 metres. Unit costs are expertise, particularly in the expected to come down floating wind sector. drifted. Scotland, where Statoil through a broad-based initiative significantly. Statoil is leading that charge is eyeing a site off the coast of that includes a power purchase Norwegian company Sway, and remains on a twin-track Aberdeenshire, is offering agreement offer from the meanwhile, relaunched its path towards specific incentives to state’s public utilities floating one-sixth-scale deployment experimental wind through a commission. demonstration device in May off of a second- new Renewables Obligation The federal government is the west coast following generation band. Consultation on the also on the move and has damage to the unit during Hywind proposal kicks off later this year. already progressed Statoil’s storms in late 2011. The system off The Norwegian company unsolicited application for company is working towards a either Scotland or the US state lobbied for just such support, Hywind 2. A comment period 2.6MW full-scale deployment. of Maine. touting “substantial that just ended attracted no Officials from the US The company is targeting a opportunities and benefits” and competing requests for the National Renewable Energy final investment decision on a calling for RO certificates at project site 19 kilometres off Laboratory in Colorado installed four or five-unit array around “the same level that will be Booth Bay in around 100 metres scientific wind, wave and 2014, which would put offered to marine of water. motion measurement equipment deployment on track for 2016. technologies”. Feedback from the public on the prototype in June as part An original timeline to Maine is making a state-level was largely centred on potential of ongoing testing of the decide on a specific location for push to attract Hywind and impacts on fishing and wildlife. device. the project this year has other floating developers The next-generation Hywind Separate company 35 Project trial run to fill in picture for Finns he Finnish government is around €20m pot is expected Meritullis as well as Germany’s offshore wind there. Some Tpreparing to subsidise a next year following government WPD. projects could fit in nicely, at single project in 2015 in order deliberation through the The Finnish Baltic was least in my opinion, but to demonstrate the feasibility winter. identified in a study earlier this probably not the amount of of the technology at scale. Finland currently offers a year as having a resource of up capacity that was estimated in Offshore wind in the country fixed tariff for wind of all to 84GW, although much of that the report.” has to date been confined to a stripes, which according to the raw potential will be restricted Finnish turbine manufacturer single national wind energy by onshore concerns including WinWind meanwhile had a Siemens association, “is not high enough tourism and amenity. difficult 2012 with the 2.3MW for offshore projects”. “The Turku archipelago is company’s Swedish arm going turbine off Some 16 developments included as a potential area for into bankruptcy in large part Pori and the totalling roughly 3000MW are offshore wind (in the study),” due to difficulties with 3MW 30MW Kemi Ajos near-shore nevertheless making their way said wind association managing units at the 10-turbine Vanern project. The government wants through the environmental director Anni Mikkonen. freshwater wind farm. to explore bigger installations assessment process. “The area is so precious to The parent company, which with an eye to setting Development companies Finns that at least at the is itself owned by Indian player appropriate feed-in tariffs for involved include home-town moment I would think it is Siva Group, experienced the sector, it is understood. players PVO Innopower, Suomen highly unlikely that one could working capital issues due to a A bidding process for an Hyotytuuli and Suomen get permits for huge capacity of lack of orders.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 35

mounted 350MW Havsul project off the west coast, where Vestavind holds the country’s only commercial-scale wind farm permit. An all-in-one foundation and turbine installation methodology was developed to help cut costs but contracts expected in the second half of this year have not materialised. Vestavind has been courting the oil and gas industry in search of a partner for the wind farm, which was originally due to go live around 2017-18 but has now been put off until the end of the decade. The developer was also recently awarded a licence for its Lutelandet project in Sogn and Fjordane, again on the west coast. The island development includes a 45MW onshore wind farm and space for a trio of offshore test units totalling up Sway floating demonstrator: prototype first step towards a 2.6MW full-scale deployment Photo: Sway to 10MW. Statoil is a 50% silent partner Sway Turbine has generator with each blade providing the means of in the project, which also 34 meanwhile taken the mounted on an A-frame support transferring torque between the features a proposed industrial wraps off plans for a 10MW straddling the spoke-style turbine rotor and the facility with a deep-water quay offshore turbine. The ST10 will generator. “The outer rim of generator,” said Sway. and large drydock that can feature a large diameter the generator is connected to Work appears to have stalled serve the oil and gas and permanent magnet ring the blade support structure, completely at the seabed- renewables markets. Worth the wait in Poland Polish offshore wind sector permits before moving ahead A loaded with promise is likely with projects, according to a to remain in limbo until the end government source. Support Worldwide Maritime Expertise of the decade due to grid mechanisms for the sector Nordic Offshore Marine specializes in providing qualified and experienced constraints remain a work in progress. offshore personnel, project management as well as complete project and PGE has reportedly already solutions to leading international maritime and offshore companies. regulatory secured grid access for a pair of issues. A its wind farms around 2019, 2020 target which sources said is indicative · Cable installation/repair of 500MW appears achievable, of timelines across the sector. · Subsea survey however. AOS, Energoprojekt and Eltel Sources active in the are working towards · Crewing country’s Baltic waters said a establishment of an offshore · Project management licensing mechanism is grid to accommodate future advancing for blocks already projects. www.nordicoffshore.com identified near the maritime Polish industry is keen for border with Germany, along the the offshore sector to progress, maritime border with Sweden, according to EU-funded and off Ustka and Leba along initiative South Baltic Offshore. the north-central coast. “Development of offshore wind Polish utility PGE has been energy constitutes an attractive awarded exclusive rights on a alternative to the traditional trio of blocks while other specialisation of the Polish www.nordicoffshore.com European players, including shipyard industry,” it said. Iberdrola, have also been “Improvement of the tempted by Poland’s relatively conditions for offshore wind shallow and resource-rich Baltic investments may become a acreage. catalyst both for the sector Those holding or seeking itself as well as for the shipyard blocks must still acquire industry and co-operating DENMARK · TEL. +45 6361 0364 (24 hrs) · [email protected] environmental and construction industries.”

www.reNews.biz 36 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Large-scale development hits the buffers in Iberia iscal austerity has choked Only test sites and demonstrator projects off utility-scale offshore Fambitions in Spain and are left standing, writes Seb Kennedy Portugal, limiting activity in the sector to the realm of this does not appear likely to leading bids in the EC’s NER300 technological innovation. change for the foreseeable funding competition. The region’s entire future. The application envisages a renewables Amid the ensuing industrial first phase of two 3MW offshore sector has decline, Spanish and Portuguese turbines each atop a WindFloat been offshore R&D projects are triangular support structure, crippled by looking to tap the European followed later by a further deficit Commission for funding, with three 7MW turbines on the Leading bidder in the NER300 reduction mixed fortunes. novel foundations. The turbines funding competition: the measures Portugal has fared better will be connected in an array Windfloat demo off Portugal that have than its neighbour thanks to through ‘dynamic cables’ and to Photo: Principle Power caused a successful at-sea trials of a an onshore substation through a once- floating Vestas V80 turbine on 30km-long medium voltage main off the coast of Tarragona, buoyant onshore industry to board a demonstration unit of cable. which passed the first phase of screech to a halt. the WindFloat structure. The The WindFloat array is one of technical due diligence in March Set against this backdrop, system will be assessed for three top-rated Portuguese in its hunt for €30m of support the several gigawatts of another six or 12 months at the NER300 schemes supported by but did not feature on the commercial projects once Aguçadoura test site. Lisbon. A final decision from the NER300 shortlist. mooted in Spain’s few shallow Principle Power and partner EC is due in late November and This may not be a deal waters now appear little more EDP are now looking towards a contract awards will follow in breaker, however, as NER300 than a pipedream. phased 27MW array of floating 2013. Projects will have four funds were intended only for Portugal, for its part, never machines some 14km off years to get up and running. the scheme’s 30MW deep-water truly began a formal process for Portugal’s Atlantic coast. The Spain’s leading offshore floating second phase. commercial development and project was ranked among the project is the Zefir test station The latest schedule 37

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 37

36 could see construction WPD adding to Italian stable despite terrain begin in April for a erman developer WPD is different bodies including the areas, archaeological sites and seabed-anchored first phase of Gplanning to move forward Ministry of Cultural Heritage, at a “great distance” from the 20MW in shallower waters, with a pair of new wind farms which according to Italian coast to minimise visual powering up in September 2013. off Italy even though market sources has been critical of impacts. Project sponsors include conditions make construction of offshore wind to date. Greece has nearly 2000MW of Alstom, Gamesa, Acciona, EDP, any project unlikely before Transmission is also an issue projects in the early stages of Elecnor, Siemens and Prysmian, 2016. with the priority currently given planning in national waters, and backers are said to have Details to renewable energy projects according to the country’s “earmarked” €230m to cover will be expected to be reversed by system operator. both stages of Zefir. unveiled in government in the near future. Accommodating future Gamesa, for its part, remains the New The country included an offshore power is dependent committed to the offshore Year but the projects will join a offshore wind target in its both on upgrading the sector but timeframes are WPD portfolio that already national renewable action plan transmission system and the slipping for the maiden includes the 324MW Margherita of 680MW and to date a total of growth of onshore wind. appearance of its 5.5MW G128 wind farm off Manfredonia, more than 1GW of projects have Swedish company Hexicon is turbine prototype. which is currently being started development. marching on with plans to build A mooted 2013 installation at assessed by government “It’s important to get that a floating, six-sided 54MW wind Arinaga Quay in Gran Canaria ministries. first wind farm up and running installation off Malta despite looks likely to fall into early Other developers are active to show everybody that this failing to secure NER300 funding 2014 while commercial roll-out off Italy including Seva, which sector can work,” said one from the European Union. of the machine before the end applied earlier this year for a developer source. “The second The developer said interest of that year is considered by pair of wind farms off Bari project will then come much shown by investors and financial some to be optimistic. totalling 402MW and 126MW. more quickly.” institutions will allow the Gamesa said it is “adjusting Rome introduced a feed-in Elsewhere in the project to progress. investment to market trends” tariff this year for offshore Mediterranean, Greek developer Environmental work for the and will pursue 7MW and 8MW wind that ranges between €165 RF Energy was given approval in more traditional wind farm platforms “in the medium to and €175 per megawatt-hour. the summer to build a 498MW planned off Sikka l-Bajda has long term”. As only fully consented projects wind farm off the island of been completed and is currently The company is yet to can apply, however, no one is Lemnos in the Aegean Sea. being reviewed by stakeholders. commit to a planned offshore expected to qualify before the The €2bn project will The Maltese government manufacturing supply chain in 2015 deadline. comprise 81 Repower 6M plans to launch a tender process Scotland to service the UK Projects in Italy must be turbines and is planned for for the roughly 20-turbine market. assessed by as many as 40 waters outside Natura 2000 project.

www.reNews.biz 38 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 DoE to open up Tipping point within its coffers for demonstrators he US Department of Energy reach for US players Tis expected to award he US is inching ever 2015 shaping up to be year for delivery funding imminently for up to closer to deployment of five demonstration projects. Tits first offshore wind of first power, writesTodd Westbrook Total spending of $180m was turbines via development of originally due to be awarded commercial arrays both large necessary to build the full project’s transmission works earlier this year but was caught and small and single-machine 130-turbine farm, for which and electricity supply platform. up in the presidential elections. demonstrators. Siemens will supply 3.6MW Cape Wind connects to shore at Recipients will include both American offshore wind machines, a spokesperson said. Barnstable. traditional and floating wind. flag-bearer Time is tight, however, with Deepwater Wind is on course Winners are likely to come from Cape Wind is financial close on Cape Wind to be first in the water off the both the east and west coasts, targeting expected by the end of the US with a target of financial from the Great Lakes and from first power second quarter next year. “If close on its 30MW Block Island the Gulf of Mexico, said sources in 2015 and and when we contract for more demo in the second half of next familiar with the process. full commissioning of its project power we will seek financing for year and construction starting Projects mentioned in on Horseshoe Shoal in 2016. that added component,” said on transmission elements in connection with the DoE cash Final size of the project, the spokesperson. 2014. include a floating demonstrator however, remains up in the air. Cape completed initial Siemens is supplying 6MW off Maine, a second floater off Cape holds power purchase seismic work at the site this direct drive turbines, which are Oregon, LEEDCo’s Icebreaker agreements with National Grid year and is planning further due up in summer 2015. A US demo off Cleveland, University and NStar for a combined pre-construction campaigns in yard in the Gulf of Mexico is of Delaware’s proposed test site 363MW of output and if no 2013, although exact details expected to fabricate jacket and a project off Texas. other buyer for electricity can have yet to be revealed. foundations and all contracts Consultancy company ODE, be found the wind farm will be CalDive, Flatiron and Cashman will be in place ahead of a final which is involved in a number of financed and built as a will lead on construction with investment decision. the sites, said the value of the 101-turbine site. other suppliers yet to fall into Permits must still be secured awards will go well beyond the The developer remains place. It is widely anticipated from the US Army Corps of individual winners. hopeful of securing the backing that Siemens will tackle the Engineers and the Rhode Island “If they can get deployment Coastal Resources Management going in a number of different Council. The former is likely to areas it can only be good for be the more time consuming offshore development in general,” but even so Deepwater expects said managing director Peter paperwork to be sorted by the Godfrey, who added that in 10 end of the first quarter of 2013. to 12 years the North American Block Island features an market would undoubtedly be unusual transmission element “moving forward vigorously”. alongside the more straightforward wind farm and issues could now be solved in Confidence export cable. A secondary wire time for deployment of 5MW • Access accurate and reliable worldwide will supply power to and from turbines in 2014. Contractors weather information via one website the previously off-grid island to already lined up include XEMC the Rhode Island mainland. for headline hardware and • Optimise operations Deepwater has yet to decide Kerite and Durocher for cable and maintenance planning whether it will finance, build supply and installation. • Maximise safety and protect people and then sell the transmission The developer holds a US and assets element to National Grid or Army Corps of Engineers permit whether that company will take for construction, including • Reduce costs due to weather downtime over the transmission project three-legged jacket foundations sooner and carry out the work and a 35kV export wire running • Make the best use of available itself. “Those discussions are beneath the beach to connect weather windows ongoing,” said the developer. at Atlantic City Electric’s Fishermen’s Energy had a existing Huron substation. difficult 2012 with its plans to One source said Superstorm build a 24MW demonstrator off Sandy, which came ashore at Atlantic City, New Jersey, Atlantic City, provided valuable To request a free demo of our SafeseeTM website, caught up first in a state-level data for the project rather than call +44 (0)1224 629834 referencing reNews or visit debate over the costs and ruling out development www.metoffice.gov.uk/marine/offshore-renewables benefits of the project and then altogether as some feared. in ongoing delays to approval “We now have data on the for proposed offshore loads involved and it appears

Produced by the Met Office. © Crown copyright 2012 12/0624. Met Office and the Met Office logo are registered trademarks. renewable energy credits. the turbines can match those Sources said both those conditions,” he said.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 39 Federal lease SMART FROM THE START Developers registering interest at most recent milestone process builds Maryland Arcadia, EDF, Energy Management Inc, Fishermen’s Energy, head of steam Orisol, RES Americas Massachusetts Arcadia, Condor Wind Energy, Deepwater Wind, EDF, Energy Management Inc, Fishermen’s Energy, Iberdrola, off east coast Mainstream, Neptune, OffshoreMW he federal leasing process New Jersey EDF, Fishermen’s Energy, Garden State Offshore Tfor wind energy areas (Deepwater and PSEG), Iberdrola, Mainstream, Neptune, identified off the east coast has New Jersey Offshore, OffshoreMW, TCI Renewables, US Wind failed to meet Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s bold Rhode Island Deepwater, EDF, Energy Management Inc, Fishermen’s Energy, Iberdrola, Mainstream, Neptune, US Wind 2011 prediction that as many as six deals would be signed by the Virginia Apex Offshore, Arcadia, Cirrus Wind Enegy, Dominion Resources, EDF, Fishermen’s Energy, Iberdrola and Orisol end of this year. However, the Smart from the single project. Plans for company has to make a lease Start initiative, run by the Bureau auctioning the rights to other payment of about $300,000. for Ocean Energy Management, zones are still being finalised. Future wind energy areas off did lay the groundwork this year The one licence that was the east coast are still being • SeaRoc has successfully for what is expected to be a awarded in 2012 was to a fine-tuned. Plans for three deployed a floating lidar at the series of auctions in the company with no immediate zones off North Carolina are site of Garden State Offshore mid-Atlantic outer continental plans to progress development. due to emerge towards the end Energy’s proposed 1000MW wind shelf in the early part of 2013. NRG secured a lease for the of this year while a single zone farm around 20 miles east of Coastline states including zone off Delaware based on is taking shape off New York. Avalon, New Jersey. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, long-gestating plans originally Proposed areas off South The platform will monitor New Jersey, Delaware and drawn up by Bluewater Wind. Carolina and Georgia remain in wind speeds at up to 200 metres Virginia could be included. The An NRG spokesman said development and BOEM is also above sea level while the spar mechanism for the auctions has signing a deal for the roughly active off Maine, Florida, buoy foundation measures already been identified and 450MW zone, despite pulling Hawaii and the west coast. motion and wave height. preliminary environmental work the plug on Bluewater in The federal agency has in Garden State partners largely completed. December 2011, was an addition granted exclusivity to Deepwater Wind and PSEG are Bidders off Rhode Island will “important step in preserving Atlantic Wind Connection, hoping to secure a Smart from be asked to chase two lots, our valuable offshore wind which is planning an offshore the Start lease for the wind those off Virginia will fight for a assets”. In the near term, the transmission network. farm. Photo: SeaRoc

www.reNews.biz 40 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Mega-farm finds way through Political class across Canada Brazil’s bureaucratic jungle turns a blind razil’s mammoth 11.2GW Developer wastes years chasing permit eye to sector Asa Branca offshore wind anada’s once-promising Bfarm continues to gun for officials just ignore, writesSeb Kennedy Coffshore sector is now an initial deployment in two sitting on its hands due to years despite becoming kind of land lease agreement”, that will fast-forward the political inaction. The most embroiled in red tape. he said. offshore development process. advanced projects are awaiting Developer Eolica Brasil has Eolica Brasil could have The company can proceed policy and support mechanisms struggled to secure crucial avoided “years” of inertia with environmental studies at that will allow wind farms to paperwork to guarantee arising from a Catch-22 three 240MW modules that fall progress both off the west coast exclusive situation with two regulatory within a 10km radius of the and in the access to agencies if it had simply not onshore masts without the need Great Lakes. federal applied for the document to for further field studies. On the waters off begin with, he added. These sites will be installed latter, the state of “I realise years later it is my between 2014 and 2016 if Windstream appears to have Ceara but fault for requesting it. This financial and supply partners given up hope of working within insisted a 30MW first phase country is kind of crazy but that can be brought together. the confines of the Ontario remains on track for 2014. is how it works,” Storrer said. Talks continue with Siemens government’s moratorium on Company founder Marcello The company has received over a framework deal for 6MW freshwater wind development. Storrer told reNews the elusive assurance from regulators that turbines, although it is The company had been land lease agreement for Asa the permitting process can understood one-time looking to move ahead with its Branca may no longer be continue in the meantime and frontrunner Alstom remains in 300MW Wolfe Island project as needed to secure remaining the land lease issue can be the frame. Various potential a sort of reference for scientific environmental permits. resolved “if and when it is financial partners, including and other studies but has been It has become apparent needed”. Eletrobras and private investors, unable to find common ground there are “hundreds” of coastal Eolica Brasil has also gained are waiting in the wings. with provincial authorities. enterprises, including several access to a decade of valuable Project finance terms have “The government has chosen wind farms, established on met mast data from three been steadily improving in not to engage with us on this federal acreage “without any onshore wind farms in Ceara Brazil in recent years and matter,” said a spokesperson. Storrer said he believes Asa Windstream had reached Branca may leverage as much as agreement with Siemens on 90% senior debt from turbine supply and lined up development bank BNDES. support from a number of This would have to be supply chain, industrial and BASE YOUR underpinned by a power local government organisations. purchase agreement priced at A second developer, Trillium INVESTMENT ON A R$120 or R$125 per MWh in Power, was unsuccessful earlier either Brazil’s free market or this year with a C$2.25bn SOLID FOUNDATION federal auctions. Capital lawsuit claiming damages from Ramboll has designed foundations for more than half of the world’s offshore wind turbines. We provide assistance from expenditure of R$5.5m per the moratorium and impacts on the early budget and planning stages, through to detailed megawatt in phase one is its 414MW Trillium Power Wind 1 design, operation, maintenance and decommissioning. projected to drop to R$4m by project in Lake Ontario. The

WWW.RAMBOLL.COM/WIND phase three. company is appealing. Eolica Brasil set up joint On the west coast, NaiKun venture company Servemar with once had ambitions to build its Offshore Wind Power Systems of 396MW project in the Hecate Texas in June to provide the Strait off British Columbia as latter’s Titan floating soon as 2011 but in recent years foundations and installation and has gone into the corporate maintenance services at Asa equivalent of standby mode, Branca. cutting spending to an absolute Servemar’s scope will include minimum and paying its any future offshore Eolica Brasil directors and its chief executive developments in South and partly in shares. Central America and the The project itself holds Caribbean, excluding Mexico. environmental approvals from Elsewhere on the continent, the provincial and federal Venezuela is commissioning the governments, as well as first handful of onshore turbines agreements with key suppliers in the Guajira province, which and First Nations. However, are being touted as forerunners market conditions in BC appear to an eventual gigawatt-scale to rule out a power purchase offshore Caribbean initiative. agreement in the short term.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 41 Hong Kong awaits starting orders But progress stalls in mainland China due to clashes with other marine interests Siemens goes east: the 50MW Jiangsu Rudong ind Prospect and local May. It was fabricated in China tidal zone wind farm utility partner CLP by CNOOC and COOEC and in the East China Sea Holdings are on course features a caisson foundation. W Photo: Siemens to submit a budget for a 200MW Wind speeds at the site in wind farm off Hong Kong to Clearwater Bay have proved government officials before the better than expected so far. Up end of this to 67 turbines will be installed year. around 9km offshore although Under commissioning is not expected Hong Kong before 2016. rules, capex Hong Kong Electric is on a has to be similar development path in the approved Lamma Channel and reached before being the met mast milestone this passed on to year with SgurrEnergy supplying largely been forgotten as anticipated. Longyuan Power ratepayers. an ORQA platform complete licences issued in 2010 to local did complete the 50MW Jiangsu A decision is promised within 12 with Galion lidar unit. The heavy hitters ground to a halt. Rudong tidal zone wind farm in months. utility is planning to build 35 A second round of awards the East China Sea in spring this The partners are sifting turbines of at least 2.3MW and appears to have been delayed year. Siemens supplied 2.3MW- replies received earlier this is expected to enter construction until at least next year. 101 turbines for its first year from major contractors following its Hong Kong rival. According to one source, offshore effort outside Europe. following the issue of a formal Proponents off China, awards for offshore acreage Components for the request for expressions of meanwhile, have gone quiet as neglected the needs and input machines were produced at the interest, which will form the the result of planning issues and of fishermen, the navy and company’s plant in Shanghai. basis of the budget. conflicts with marine interests. transport officials, to name but Water depths at the site are up A $9m lidar met mast for the The country had set its sights a few. Costs for the sector are to five metres during high tides wind farm was erected last on 5GW by 2015 but that has also higher than originally but dry during low tides.

6XSSRUWLQJ\RXUZHOIDUHDQGHIÀFLHQF\

SELEX Elsag’s range of OceanLink VSAT communications solutions support your operations in challenging offshore HQYLURQPHQWVHQVXULQJWKHHIÀFLHQW provision of modern business and welfare communications facilities at sea at a low monthly cost.

‡6WDELOLVHGD[LVDQWHQQDZLWKDSURYHQUHOLDELOLW\UHFRUG ‡7HVWHGLQWKH1RUWK6HDRYHUWKHZLQWHUPRQWKV ‡([FHOOHQWFRYHUDJHRI8.,ULVKDQG:HVWHUQ(XURSHDQ ZLQGIDUPORFDWLRQ ‡$OZD\VRQXQOLPLWHGGDWDXVH ‡&RQWUROOHGPRQWKO\FRPPXQLFDWLRQFRVWV ‡6FDODEOHGDWDSODQVWRVXLW\RXUQHHGV

)RUIXUWKHULQIRUPDWLRQFDOO*HRII5HHGRQ   

ZZZVHOH[PDULQHFRP

,PDJHFRXUWHV\RI2IIVKRUH:LQG3RZHU0DULQH6HUYLFHV/WG

www.reNews.biz 42 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012 Samsung brings Post-Fukushima Japan scale to South Korea’s wind joins new wave in Asia sector hot-spot apan dipped a toe into the Tokyo moves away from nuclear power outh Korean industrial Joffshore wind sector this giant Samsung is preparing year as part of a national effort as Vietnam gets on project scoreboard Sto roll out its under- to boost renewables and cut and Taiwan and India eye development development 7MW offshore back on the use of nuclear power turbine at an 84MW project off in the post-Fukushima era. Sumitomo and others have long-held ambitions to build an Jeju Island. The New Energy and teamed up in a ¥120bn offshore wind sector into reality The company formed the Industrial Technology initiative to build wind farms with an $8.3m government Daejeong Offshore Wind Power Development Organisation off Kyushu and elsewhere over award due in January for a joint venture last month with installed a the next 10 years. A pilot demonstration project expected Korea 2.4MW installation of 7.5MW is planned online by the Southern Mitsubishi for 2016, to be followed by a end of 2015. Power and is turbine in 300MW commercial project. The planning to around 12 Vietnam installed its first Ministry of kick off metres of water some 3km off offshore turbines this year. A Economic construction in 2014 for Choshi in October. total of 10 GE 1.6MW units went Affairs is widely expected to operations in 2015. Tests will be carried out for in at a tidal select local companies for the A 14-turbine first phase off two years following expected near-shore project, although experienced the Yellow Sea island near commissioning early next year. site off Bac international developers are Gwangju could eventually be Government also sponsored Lieu. Cong lined up to play a supporting boosted to 200MW, depending installation of a floating 100kW Ly, the role. A series of commercial on the success of the initial turbine off Nagasaki, which is company behind the project, wind farms will follow in a bid deployment. scheduled to be upgraded to a also has plans to build a second to hit government targets of The Korean government is 2MW machine following initial phase of up to 120MW and is 3000MW by 2030. chasing up to 2.5GW of offshore operations and data collection. seeking permission for another GL Garrad Hassan has signed a wind around Jeju by the end of In the private sector, heavy wind farm at Can Thanh. memorandum of understanding the decade in co-operation with hitters Toshiba, Hitachi, Taiwan is hoping to translate with the country’s Industrial utility Kepco and heavy Technology Research Institute industrials including Samsung, to help push offshore Doosan, Daewoo, Hyundai and development. others. Be sure to catch every Taiwan has roughly 1200MW Phased ambitions unveiled a of capacity in water depths year ago include 100MW by 2014 window of opportunity from five to 20 metres and and 400MW by 2016. It is 5000MW in waters between 20 unclear if the most recent and 50 metres. Samsung plans are integral or A number of initiatives are in supplemental to the the earliest stages off India’s government path. west coast. Oil and gas player Europeans are being drafted ONGC is in to assist Korea’s progress. reportedly German utility developer EWE’s looking at a offshore services and solutions 10MW demo business has been signed on as in order to an advisor to the 2.5GW assess the potential for future government proposal. commercial deployment. Technology and experience Resource studies have also will be shared with Jeonnam been carried out at a number of Technopark, an institute set up locations as part of government by the South Korean attempts to build as much as government to oversee 4500MW in the longer term. development off Jeju. Further assessment campaigns EWE will also join forces with are planned. a trio of local manufacturers to To optimise your off shore production and maintenance One source that has carried test new foundation materials scheduling with our revolutionary probability-based out work for would-be Indian and advise on design. weather forecast system, contact us: players said the potential is not Trade body RenewableUK nearly as great as often meanwhile signed a +44 (0)20 7963 7568 discussed. He cited low wind memorandum of understanding [email protected] speeds, constraints due to oil with the Korean Wind Energy and gas activity, deep water Association focused on co- close to shore, “lots of fishermen” operation between companies and other permitting issues. active in the two markets.

www.reNews.biz 22 November 2012 reNews offshore focus 43

nvestment in new transport and installation vessels is Ibooming with a larger, faster Bigger, better installation and stronger fleet coming online to meet the demands of wind farms farther from shore and in fleet now sailing into view deeper waters. can also be made by installing “We’re seeing a lot of new Operational efficiency soars thanks to some turbines earlier in a vessels entering the market and investment rush but jury is out on best project cycle, as opposed to when they start operating there following installation of all will definitely be enough vessels technology, writes Will Wachtmeister foundations, in order to for the next four to five years,” generate substantial per-unit said A2Sea senior advisor Kaj secured. It could be ready for a installation plans, can help revenues earlier in the Lindvig. first project in 2015, given the cost-reduction efforts for construction process. The Dane predicted a fresh lead times for purchasing a offshore wind. Designing offshore platforms wave of vessel investment will crane. He said day rates for so they can be installed by be needed in four or five years How vessels are used and offshore wind jack-ups are jack-ups as opposed to more if German grid issues are contracted is also important, currently in the region of expensive heavylift vessels is resolved and the UK opts for according to one market player. €135,000 to €200,000 but another immediate way to save long-term support for offshore MPI chairman Paul Gibson said multi-year charters can reduce costs, he added. wind. Development of new long-term vessel charters, as client’s costs by around 20%. Jumbo Shipping, by areas such as Ireland, Northern well as basic changes to Gibson argued that savings contrast, is pinning its 44 Ireland, Poland, Finland and Sweden, but especially France, would give a useful boost to the long-term health of the sector. “The UK and Germany will be the main markets but it’s not great to rely on just one or two large markets,” he said. A2Sea took delivery this month of its own contribution to the THE new fleet, the Sea Installer. The vessel was specifically designed for turbine installation and can carry seven units in one go. It will be used to install the two Siemens 6MW turbines at SPECIALISTS the Gunfleet Sands 3 demo. Lindvig said the primary goal at Gunfleet is to show the vessel can install the next-generation of offshore turbines quickly. Sea Installer will then install a number of machines at Anholt before heading to West of Duddon Sands, where it will transport and install 108 Siemens 3.6MW turbines starting in April 2013 and finishing in summer 2014. Lindvig said he believes vessels such as the Sea Installer can increase operational capacity by 65% to 80% by handling deeper waters and more challenging weather. A2Sea is also looking at more The UK’s open-access testing and research facilities radical concepts for the future of offshore wind installation for the next generation of offshore wind turbines through its partnership with Teekay. Lindvig said modelling The National Renewable Energy Centre, Narec, has opened a new 100m blade of a converted oil tanker shows test facility for product certifi cation, verifi cation and investigation purposes. the platform makes sense technically and economically. Interested? Email: [email protected] The partners will go ahead with converting a Teekay- www.narec.co.uk owned tanker if a first order is National Renewable Energy Centre

www.reNews.biz 44 offshore focus reNews 22 November 2012

Welcome to Denmark: the legs of Swire Blue Ocean’s Pacific Orca tower over the dockside buildings Photo: Swire Blue Ocean New vessels pack a punch EME subsidiary Scaldis is change between different types recently arrived in Denmark and “enormous weather windows”, building heavylift vessel of projects if one market slows is undergoing a final fit-out said Swire general manager and DRambiz 4000 for delivery down,” he said, while sister-ship Pacific Osprey director Lars Blicher. in spring 2014. The ship will be Swire Blue Ocean, meanwhile, will tie up on 31 December. The units’ ability to work in capable of lifting a massive will introduce two of what are The vessels can jack up in up to 60-metre water depths 4000 tonnes and joins a possibly the most powerful significant wave heights of 2.5 means all UK Round 3 projects company fleet that already transport and installation vessels metres and the crane can work are within reach, he added. includes next-generation vessel early next year. Pacific Orca in 20m/s winds, opening up Pacific Orca was recently Innovation and seven other booked to install foundations at jack-ups in GeoSea colours. Bigger, better installation fleet Dong’s 320MW Borkum Riffgrund DEME chief executive Alain 1 project in the German North hopes on floating said. “We dare to offer a fixed Bernard said it is important that Sea following on directly from 43 installation vessels price per jacket-type- the company retains flexibility its first assignment at West of rather than jack-ups. Managing foundation as we are able to to operate across different Duddon Sands. director Michael Kahn said the work much more efficiently sectors. “We have invested in The Danish developer has a company is challenging the than jack-ups.” vessels and there are many long-term agreement on the turbine industry to change Utility player RWE has taken others coming into the market Pacific Orca, with options to designs so turbines can be a different tack from its because the authorities have extend to 2015, and is free to erected from floating vessels to developer peers by operating its committed to 2020 targets and keep the timing of the vessel’s shorten lead times. own offshore wind installation we need to have the capacity to move to Borkum flexible. “Jumbo strongly believes in vessels. get there. Pacific Osprey, meanwhile, is the floating option and in Seabreeze units are on the “Our jack-ups can (also) be heading for DanTysk where it pre-piling and mounting job at the under-construction used for civil works, wreck will install 80 Siemens 3.6MW transition pieces in an Nordsee Ost and Gwynt y Mor removal and oil and gas. We are turbines next summer after an oil industrialised, serial way,” he projects. flexible with our equipment to and gas decommissioning job.

Editor Todd Westbrook +44 (0)1479 873 167 [email protected] Deputy editor Seb Kennedy +44 (0)208 981 8151 [email protected] reNews annual re News Senior reporter Will Wachtmeister +44 (0)208 144 3189 [email protected] Scotland report Reporter, offshore France Lisa Louis +33 627 933 453 [email protected] www.reNews.biz Reporter, Ireland Jack Horgan-Jones +353 879 470 335 [email protected] Publisher Renews Limited, Editorial assistant Benedict Watson +44 (0)1962 890 479 [email protected] First Floor, St George’s House, Correspondent Dan Rigden +44 (0)1962 890 449 [email protected] out in the New Year St George’s Street, Winchester, Production Richard Crockett [email protected] To advertise please contact: Hampshire, SO23 8BG, UK. Sales manager Cassi Davison +44 (0)1962 890 440 [email protected] [email protected] Sales executive Vicky Mant +44 (0)1962 890 468 [email protected] © All articles appearing in reNews +44 (0)1962 890 468 are protected by copyright. Any reNews costs £415 + VAT for a 12-month subscription. A Multiple User Subscription (10 users) unauthorised reproduction is strictly prohibited. costs £1415 + VAT; a Corporate Subscription (unlimited) costs £2440 + VAT. ISSN 1478-307X