PES Wind 2 2020

Trelleborg Natural Power SupAirVision Conference Call We hear from Richard Beesley, Iain Dinwoodie explains about Developments & PES looks forward to Innovation and Business wind asset management innovations in the UAV some of the leading and Development Director market to meet the needs most eagerly anticipated of the wind sector events of the year WIND Once again, we are excited to present you the latest product & technology innovations, as well as project developments and advances from a number of key movers and shakers in the global wind market. We have the pleasure of hearing from several of the industry’s leading names, and front runners. PLUS, our regular helping of opinion, industry insight & analysis POWER AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 2, 2020 DIGITALISATION IS INTEGRAL TO THE WIND INDUSTRY

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EDITOR’S NOTE Trelleborg Natural Power SupAirVision Conference Call We hear from Richard Beesley, Iain Dinwoodie explains about Developments & PES looks forward to Innovation and Business wind asset management innovations in the UAV some of the leading and Development Director market to meet the needs most eagerly anticipated of the wind sector events of the year WIND Once again, we are excited to present you the latest product & technology innovations, as well as project developments and advances from a number of key movers and shakers in the global wind market. We have the pleasure of hearing from several of the industry’s leading names, and front runners. PLUS, our regular helping of opinion, industry insight & analysis POWER AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 2, 2020 DIGITALISATION IS INTEGRAL TO THE WIND INDUSTRY Editor’s note POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS I sincerely hope that reading this, you are safe and well. Directors I think you’ll agree that 2020 has been something of a unique year! None of us have Stuart Gillies seen anything quite like this during our lifetime, that can be said without doubt. 2020 Mark Smith has been challenging in so many ways, with unforeseen circumstances and an Stefann Perrigot ever-evolving global situation providing us with a consistently changing environment Client Liaison Manager for business and collaboration. Vikki Birch Editor At PES, we have been so impressed by how agile and adaptive so many of our partners Elaine Perrigot and colleagues in the Wind sector have been in an attempt to, not just to survive, but [email protected] actually flourish and transform during this last 6-9month spell. It has been nothing Associate Editors short of inspirational. Stephen Pearson Zachary George And here we are with the latest edition of PES WIND in 2020. It is incredible to hear how Design companies have altered their business operations, working practices and day to day Andrew Jenkins interactions to stay competitive and ahead of the game in a market that waits and slows [email protected] for no one. The technology continues to progress, projects are growing and predictably, Production working toward maximum efficiency, as always, remains the key objective all round and Paul Lawson this is continuing to achieve cost reductions. The race is heating up between R&D [email protected] departments from the leading companies to come up with even more advanced Sales Enquiries technology, innovation and cost saving solutions from all corners of the globe. [email protected] General Enquiries We are delighted in this issue we bring you up to date on advances in some improved [email protected] but well-known technologies, as well as several unique production developments and Media Partnership Enquiries concepts for both the onshore and offshore wind markets. [email protected] Advertising Opportunities Unsurprisingly, digitalisation and energy management solutions are continuing to [email protected] grab centre stage, and this is an area of the market which is gaining tremendous PES is published by P&G Media Ltd traction. Huge financial gains can be made through the implementation of the right solutions and products. This much is clear. P&G Media Ltd PO Box 310, Bristol, BS10 5WT, With almost no face to face interaction taking place in 2020, we have a sense of both excitement and anticipation as we look forward to returning to some sort of normality United Kingdom in 2021 and we look forward to seeing you soon in person at some of our favourite and familiar venues across the globe. We have missed it very much, and although several This publication is copyright © 2017 P&G Media Ltd and hugely successful virtual events and summits have been super impressive, we can’t may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole wait to meet in person, as soon as it’s safe and achievable. or in part without the prior permission of P&G Media Ltd. While every care has been taken during the preparation of Before that, there are still a couple of huge events taking place in virtual form before this publication, P&G Media cannot be held responsible for the end of 2020 as we look forward to Global Offshore Wind 2020, OFFSHORE ENERGY the accuracy of the information published herein or any 2020 and the WINDENERGY HAMBURG 2020 events. consequence arising from it. As you will be expecting, we are proud to bring you our usual offering of opinion, From sustainably managed forests. exclusive interviews and product advancements, as well as an industry round-up of For more information visit: www.pefc.org key developments and innovation, within our latest issue. www.peswind.com Relax and enjoy the read… WWW.PESWIND.COM 3 Elaine Perrigot Editor

CONTENTS 72 Digital solutions for offshore 76 Iain Dinwoodie, Head of 88 After the media hype, it’s time to confirm it: windfarm cable protection and Advanced Performance the UAV is a formidable tool at the service life extension. An insight from Engineering Neil Marshall, Senior of the wind power industry. SupAirVision Richard Beesley, Innovation and Due Diligence Project Manager, is inventing and developing new uses for Business Development Director, at Natural Power, talks wind the UAV to meet the needs of the wind Trelleborg Applied Technologies asset management industry: inspection, painting and test of the lightning protection system (LPS) Trelleborg Natural Power SupAirVision Conference Call 8 PES brings you a show preview not to be missed. Now more than ever it’s important to keep up to date with what’s going on in our We hear from Richard Beesley, Iain Dinwoodie explains about Developments & PES looks forward to Innovation and Business wind asset management innovations in the UAV some of the leading and Development Director market to meet the needs most eagerly anticipated of the wind sector events of the year industry. Physical meetings are not currently possible, but there’s no WIND Once again, we are excited to present you the latest product & technology innovations, as well as project reason not to keep up with the latest virtual offerings. developments and advances from a number of key movers and shakers in the global wind market. We have the pleasure of hearing from several of the industry’s leading names, and front runners. PLUS, our regular helping of opinion, industry insight & analysis POWER AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 2, 2020 DIGITALISATION 24 Jonas Corné, CEO, Greenbyte, tells us why IS INTEGRAL digitalisation is proving crucial in satisfying investor TO THE WIND INDUSTRY needs amid an evolving post-subsidy market Comment Ask the experts Think tank 6 The global energy transition is 27 PES caught up with Wim Keen, CSO 32 S tefan Wenau, Viola Bihler, Aisgo underway. The uptake of renewables of STEEL INSPECT. He was happy to Oguro, Julia Haberkern, Gino is accelerating, as the technology tell us about the services the company Frielinghaus, Benedict Preu of undercuts fossil fuel based energy provides to the offshore wind energy Fraunhofer IWES talk: Challenges in generation and governments seek to sector and gave an introduction to offshore wind farm installation achieve international climate targets. their unique total quality concept, Q7, Renewable energy is now also accepted which is used to manage the quality of 36 Measuring wind farm ‘fuel’ efficiency. as an opportunity to drive green complete offshore wind EPCI projects economic growth and job creation to Courtesy of ZX Lidar help support the recovery from the 104 Scopito grew from a hobby and a bet, impacts of Covid-19 56 The reliability of an offshore wind how many companies can say this about 22 The declaration of a climate emergency their origins? We at PES were intrigued turbine and the resources required to and wanted to know more, so we maintain it can make up ~30% of the in Scotland, quickly followed by the decided to talk with CEO and Founder overall cost of energy, thus determining rest of the UK, has been a boon for Ken Isobe Falk. The end result is their and understanding offshore wind the renewable energy sector. After all, state-of-the-art inspection software, turbine failure rates is vital for without clean power, heat and transport which is used in drone inspections and modelling and reducing O&M costs and fuels, our ambitious net-zero targets are for the digitization of assets. Clients in turn minimizing the levelized cost of totally out of reach are able to use the data to manage energy (LCoE) their assets via a cloud-based platform. This in turn will help to improve the 82 D elivering climate neutrality requires lifespan of wind turbines. A solution that is proving very popular in the wind adequate new national energy strategies, industry policies, and regulatory frameworks to be in place due to the massive energy transformation needed. We have the privilege of hearing from Immanuel Capano, Head of Business Development Saitec Offshore Technologies 4 PES WIND

CONTENTS 42 94 16 94 How lessons from the oil and gas 42 Jürgen Fuhrländer, Managing 66 Over the last three years we have seen industry can support the floating Director GFW-Gesellschaft für the introduction of purpose-built Service offshore wind (FLOW) sector’s Windenergieanlagen GmbH, tells PES Offshore Vessels (SOV). These 70-100 sustainable development about a Newly developed ground- m long vessels service wind farms, where based winch system shortens the a long distance to shore makes a land- Corporate focus amount of time needed to replace large based service organization impractical. 48 A s the world begins to open up again components Typically, 40-60 technicians live onboard the vessels and are transferred to the after the devastation of COVID-19, 52 Online trade is the big winner of the wind turbines with motion compensated Cargostore Worldwide talks to PES walk-to-work gangways. A challenge for Media about how they have managed Corona crisis. This also applies to this operation is the efficiency of getting to stay profitable during the pandemic. the spare parts and repair market for the technicians around the wind farm. We explore the company’s timeline of wind turbines. A Hamburg company, The SOV transits at typically 10 knots growth over the last three years which a pioneer in this niche in 2013, is now and needs time for accurate positioning, has led to their current position in the gaining momentum despite, or because to set out and also collect the personnel. offshore container industry of Corona. Stefan Weber, Founder and Hear the thoughts of Trygve Espeland, Managing Director of Windsourcing. Naval Architect, ESNA Talking point com GmbH, shares his thoughts with 16 Anyone familiar with the current offshore PES on how the foundation of a digital 100 T he importance of a workforce in the trading company came about and how wind (OSW) project pipeline along the much more importance digitization has booming wind industry. An insight from United States’ East Coast, knows that gained among the broad masses in the Alex Øbell Nielsen, Head of Business this undertaking has great potential to context of the Corona crisis Development for Maersk Training turn into the envisioned one trillion-dollar industry in the coming decades. The 62 VROON talks to PES about the 110 E LA bring us up to speed on the current plan is to install 13 offshore wind farms totaling 9.1GW power output by importance of a change culture in latest portable accommodation units, 2026 [AWEA Status Update 2020], with todays environment workshops and technical solutions for industry experts predicting to overtake the offshore market the European market 20 years from now WWW.PESWIND.COM 5

COMMENT: FLOATING WIND The next energy frontier: floating wind farms The global energy transition is underway. The uptake of renewables is accelerating, as the technology undercuts fossil fuel based energy generation and governments seek to achieve international climate targets. Renewable energy is now also accepted as an opportunity to drive green economic growth and job creation to help support the recovery from the impacts of Covid-19. Olivia Burke scaling of floating wind is the technology’s The opportunities for business are ability to unlock new markets for offshore significant and we are already starting to see Offshore wind has a key role to play in this wind development. An estimated 80% of companies keen to become first movers - energy transition, having grown nearly 30% global offshore wind resource is located in making significant investments in research per year between 2010 and 2018. The IEA deep water areas (depths of more than 60m), and development (R&D). By the end of 2020, predicts global offshore wind capacity to where winds are typically stronger and more global floating wind capacity will reach 130 increase fifteen-fold by 2040, becoming a consistent, with the potential to yield MW and our latest analysis suggests the US$1 trillion industry. After successfully superior capacity factors. The first larger sector will grow to reach 70 GW by 2040. lowering the price of bottom-fixed projects, capacity floating wind turbine (2.3MW) was the next frontier for industry is floating installed and tested over a decade ago in Innovation and incentives are required to offshore wind. Norway. Since then interest has increased as accelerate technology uptake the viability and the scale of the technology Floating wind unlocks new markets has grown, with Hywind Scotland Multiple demonstration projects have demonstrating a 30MW turbine - the largest progressed the technology, however, A key factor driving the development and floating turbine to-date. floating wind remains an emerging sector. Stable policies and government support are The development of floating wind projects required to achieve a pipeline of projects to is currently focused across six countries in accelerate commercialisation and unlock Europe and Asia. However, this will not savings at scale. This will also help create always be the case. For some newer certainty to encourage supply chain markets, such as the United States (US), innovation and investment. where there is no installed floating capacity, over 50% of potential wind resource area is Alongside policy support, innovation is also not suitable for bottom-fixed structures. needed to address technical bottlenecks Floating wind is therefore critical for such as mooring design, heavy lift geographies that do not have the alternatives and new monitoring and appropriate sea bed conditions for inspection. Common to multiple floating bottom-fixed turbines to capitalise on the wind designs, these challenges are suitable expanding offshore wind market, and to for industry-led collaborative research and decarbonise their energy systems. Floating development efforts. wind also creates opportunities to attract supply chain investment to new areas that In response to these needs the Carbon Trust may have lost out to established offshore created the Floating Wind Joint Industry wind regions. Programme (Floating Wind JIP), a collaborative R&D programme, with 15 6 PES WIND

COMMENT: FLOATING WIND ‘The abundance of potential wind resource in deep waters makes floating attractive to states looking to decarbonise energy generation and create jobs.’ leading offshore wind developers and Coast (California), and three 400MW projects Authority, and is dedicated to managing support from the Scottish Government. in Hawaii. While the Northeast is typically industry-focused R&D for offshore wind to Since its formation in 2016, over 20 projects associated with shallower waters, there are maximise economic benefits for the US. The have been kicked off investigating the also suitable sites for floating wind. NOWRDC has identified a target for the technical challenges that still need to be Levelised Cost of Energy of at or below overcome to achieve large scale deployment. The abundance of potential wind resource in US$60 per megawatt-hour by 2030. deep waters makes floating attractive to While our Floating Wind JIP focuses on states looking to decarbonise energy Floating wind is on the cusp of achieving technology and is geographically agnostic, generation and create jobs. Cost reduction is scale and cost reductions, and the experience has also taught us that targeted critical to realising the potential for floating deployment of commercial windfarms will market collaboration can be an efficient way wind and collaborative approaches to R&D lead to greater opportunities, for not only of channelling funding to technology projects in new geographies allow developers, but the wider supply chain. We developments. For example, the Offshore established companies to invest and provide estimate that at 70GW in 2040 the floating Wind Accelerator (OWA) programme started learnings to market entrants, accelerating wind industry will have a project value of in 2008, has delivered a 15 per cent reduction information sharing and innovation. £195bn, demonstrating the opportunity for in the Levelised Cost of Energy; an the supply chain globally to support and impressive return on investment for the Public-private partnerships are also invest in floating wind. The race is on. industry and government funders based on emerging as an effective way to finance an investment of over £100 million. This floating wind. An example is the University of The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit equates to a European-wide cost saving of Maine’s pioneering Aqua Ventus project, consultancy established in 2001, with a £34 billion based on European government’s which has just taken the next step to mission to accelerate the move to a low build targets out to 2030. becoming the first industrial-scale floating carbon economy. With over a decade of wind project in the US. It is a collaboration experience working at the forefront of Market-specific approaches to R&D: US between an experienced developer, RWE offshore wind development globally, case study Renewables, and Mitsubishi-owned Diamond the Carbon Trust has played a central Offshore Wind. role in accelerating cost reduction The United States is a potential major market across the industry and stimulating for floating offshore wind, particularly on the In 2018, based on our experience running supply chains. Find out more at Pacific Coast and in Hawaii. Multiple the OWA, we helped to establish the US www.carbontrust.com commercial projects are already being National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium explored along the West Coast including an (NOWRDC), which includes the US up to 1GW project in Morro Bay (California), Department of Energy, and the New York an up to 150MW project off the Humboldt State Energy Research and Development WWW.PESWIND.COM 7

CONFERENCE CALL The show must go on! Credit - ScottishPower Renewables East Anglia One Wind Farm PES brings you a show preview not to be missed. Now more than ever it’s important to keep up to date with what’s going on in our industry. Physical meetings are not currently possible, but there’s no reason not to keep up with the latest virtual offerings. Don’t miss out! RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind 2020 field. Key themes this year will focus on how your own home! virtual conference and exhibition takes place the industry continues to move forward from 28th to 30th October. It presents an ideal following COVID-19, the race to net zero and A first for RUKGOW20 opportunity to immerse yourself within the upcoming infrastructure investment captivating world of offshore wind, to engage programmes. Given the challenges we have For the first time, the Global Offshore Wind with key players throughout the offshore seen this year, it has never been so important conference and exhibition is going online. wind supply chain and get up-to-date with to re-connect with the industry. Plus, you can While we appreciate this will not offer the the very latest ideas and innovations in the do it all from the comfort and convenience of same experience as visiting in person, RenewableUK have done everything we can 8 PES WIND

CONFERENCE CALL to ensure as many learning and networking to grow significantly in the next 20 years, by new export cables, as well as the installation opportunities for you as possible. In fact, 13% each year according to Stated Policies of up to 7,000 new wind turbines worldwide. there are several positives to make the most Scenario.1 In fact, global offshore wind An amazing 156 new global projects are of, including: capacity is projected to rise 15-fold by 2040, anticipated to start producing renewable when it is estimated to become a $1 trillion power by 2025. • Optimal convenience industry. Reaching this will match the capital investment in gas and coal in the same two As demonstrated in this year’s Global • Streamlined budget decades, as well as accounting for Offshore Wind Report2 by the Global Wind approximately 10 per cent of all renewable- Energy Council (GWEC), this exceptional • Continued learning based power plant investment globally. market expansion has already begun, with 2019 marked as the second-best growth year • Virtual networking In the shorter-term, more than 10,000km of in the sector’s history with 6.1 GW array cables are predicted to be installed installations. The same report postulated To give you an idea of what to expect, we globally in the next 5 years. Over the same that the continued progression of offshore have created some videos of what the virtual time, we can also expect over 7,700km of wind could create an enormous 900,000 jobs event will look like, which you can browse on over the coming decade, as the market our website. We have also created some 1 International energy Agency (IEA). Offshore Wind how-to guides for you to peruse prior to Outlook 2019. World Energy Outlook special re- 2 G lobal Wind Energy Council. Global Offshore Wind logging into the event on the big day. port. Technology report – November 2019. https:// Report 2020. https://gwec.net/global-offshore- www.iea.org/reports/offshore-wind-outlook-2019 wind-report-2020/#:~:text=Offshore%20wind%20 A future full of opportunity [Accessed September 2020] will%20surge%20to,GW%20of%20floating%20 offshore%20wind [Accessed September 2020] The global offshore wind market is expected WWW.PESWIND.COM 9

CONFERENCE CALL RUKGOW20 Virtual Event Lobby surges to over 234 GW by 2030. It’s no Markets, Supply Chain You can also connect with fellow delegates to wonder, therefore, that offshore wind has share experiences, seek opinions and further been tipped as a major source of support for • New Futures Forum (Offshore Wind enrich your experience. global economies as they attempt to recover Careers Fair) from the financial fall-out of COVID-19. Among those you can engage with will be our What’s on? highly-esteemed Event Partners, Country Technological innovation will likely be one of Partner and Global Markets Partner. the main driving forces behind much of this With an extensive, three-day conference RenewableUK would like to thank them for market development. It will enable the programme, Global Offshore Wind 2020 will their continued support of both the Global industry to overcome the challenges of present hundreds of expert speakers from Offshore Wind conference and exhibition, utilising hydrogen to compete with fossil fuel across the sector. We will be looking at how and of the industry as a whole. sources. It’s how we will harness the potential the industry has been impacted by the of the North Sea and how net zero will pandemic and what might be needed during Event Partners become a reality. the recovery period to continue fighting the GE Renewable Energy climate crisis. We will explore net zero Mainstream Renewable Power As a result, we can all look forward to an networks and what it might take to drive the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind exciting period of development as the transition to renewable energy sources on a Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult offshore wind sector becomes truly pivotal in much larger scale in the years to come. The Ørsted the route to a global net zero. This is a time for spotlight will be on innovation and creativity, RWE innovation and advancement, for progress introducing new ideas and concepts to make ScottishPower Renewables and achievement. By capitalising on these market aspirations a reality. Shell opportunities, industry contributors will Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy certainly reap the rewards for years to come. The Futures Forum will also be held as part of SSE Renewables the event, tailored specifically to students This is why it’s so important not to take your aged 15 to 23 or those interested in changing Country Partner foot off the pedal and to maintain momentum professions. Its conference programme will Department for International Trade by sharing knowledge and insights at industry focus on what a career in renewables entails, Global Markets Partner events. It’s also why the Global Offshore Wind what opportunities are out there, which skills Global Wind Energy Council 2020 conference and exhibition is designed to are required and how the sector is structured. ensure that essential topics, trends and There will also be helpful workshops on CV For all this and much, much more, don’t miss technologies are brought to the fore. writing and social media profile building, as well the Global Offshore Wind 2020 virtual as career advice and a roundtable session on conference and exhibition this October! Event highlights transitioning from oil and gas to renewables. Find out more at This year, you can look forward to: Get involved https://events.renewableuk.com/gow20 • 80+ exhibitors The key to really making the most of the Global Offshore Wind 2020 virtual virtual event this year will be getting conference and exhibition • 300 speakers involved. Utilise the opportunities available to interact with individuals and companies 28th - 30th October • 4000+ participants who are changing the face of the industry from across the offshore wind supply chain, #RUKGOW20 • 3 live days with 6 expert conference including high-level policy-makers, global streams press, leading technology developers and more. You can arrange virtual meetings with • 30+ hours of exclusive content representatives ahead of time, so organise your diary and make the most of your time. • 22 live and interactive sessions • 3 specialist theatres – Innovation, Global 10 PES WIND

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CONFERENCE CALL Postpone the show? No, Wind Energy Asia is vital to the development of the supply chain in Taiwan PES brings you a review of Wind Energy Asia 2020, which took place from March 3rd -5th and a look at forward to the upcoming edition in 2021. In mid- February 2020, as the show approached, the coronavirus spread was heating up and headed straight to be declared a pandemic. Many European exhibitors were having difficulties imagining getting on a plane and flying to an island just 100 plus miles from China, where it all had started and was still far from under control. 12 PES WIND

CONFERENCE CALL The technical seminars drew an interested audience In Taiwan however, with no community government, but if so and besides that, little At the Opening Ceremony, Deputy spread to speak of, the virus situation was else. The real business with truly new Economics Minister Vincent Tseng, very much under control. And we knew that, opportunities is done down South in responsible for Energy, reinforced the despite the pandemic, renewables continued Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung is in the center of the commitment of Taiwan’s government to to need development and that a strong steel, ship-building and petrochemical have wind become a cornerstone in the supply chain in Taiwan was critical for the industry clusters, where a strong base for country’s energy transformation. He was continued development of the industry here. wind is already established and expanding by followed by strong messages of support So, despite the many skeptics, we went the day. from the Representatives or Trade Office ahead. And were rewarded grandly! Directors from Holland, Sweden, UK, France The exhibition is not huge when compared to and Germany. All our numbers were up handsomely, yes, up, some of the leading European shows, but it is in 2020, imagine, compared to 2019: by far the largest event dedicated solely to The job fair and technical seminars the wind industry in Taiwan, and already Top dominated the stage in the exhibition hall on • 52.8% more companies exhibiting, 136 in 3 in Asia. Probably best put by Piet Warnaar, the 2nd and 3rd day of the show. The job fair total. About 10-15 others canceled days Senior Business Developer at the Dutch looks for answers to an urgent need by the before due to the pandemic ECN/TNO. ‘Visitor quality is very good, the industry to recruit new talent which is lacking average crowd is better than last year, the in every level in Taiwan. We cooperate with 6 • 13 countries and 8 pavilions: up from 6 number of booths has grown a lot, so your main technical universities, mainly from last year reputation is building. Please carry on. Thank South Taiwan, arranging to bus students and you!’ he said. engineers to the show, thereby exposing • Exhibition area grew 29.7% to 205 booths them to the industry and giving them the The event provides a great platform for B2B opportunity to sit in on presentations by • 19.6% more trade visitors, for a total of discussions leading to concrete business leading companies searching for talent. 1,876 relationships. Most exhibitors remarked on the fact that they were able to get new The technical seminars are a fundamental tool This is a remarkable development, and even contracts because of just being there! to show off new technologies, disseminate more so when compared to competitive ‘Being here we have received a lot of knowledge and establishing credentials in the events in Taipei that are about a third of the inquiries from big players like JDN, Boskalis, midst of a thirsty audience willing to soak up size and shrinking year-on-year. The CDWE and could actually test the the facts. In 2021, we will again have a industry is realizing that wind events in Taipei equipment on the ship. We are definitely separately-paid conference or forum with key might give you some exposure to the coming next year!’ said Vice President Lin leaders and sponsorship opportunities. We from Smart Frequency Technology/K-Best expect that this will be partially virtual, to Technology. And Chung-Pang Chen, allow high-valued foreign speakers to deliver Chairman Hung Hua Construction stating their message, as well as allow a broader ‘Because we were exhibiting, we have closed participation from a remote audience. deals with domestic and foreign partners. I am sure the exhibition will grow even And this brings us to the important subject of stronger in the future!’ There is no doubt: virtual, hybrid or online/offline, however it WEA means business! should be called. We are currently in discussions and working with vendors to 136 exhibitors sharing 205 booths in the provide a truly great experience for the exhibition hall were visited by 1,876 industry exhibition hall as well. In Taiwan we don’t professionals. 8 pavilions from Denmark, foresee any problem with the event taking Holland, France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, place given the control on the virus there is, the US and Taiwan, showed off their wares but to allow a wider participation for the together with most Tier 1 vendors with their many who cannot afford 14 days quarantine, local partners and JVs, i.e. Jan de Nul, CDWE/ we will have a great solution we are excited DEME, Boskalis, among others. about. Stay tuned. WWW.PESWIND.COM 13

CONFERENCE CALL The skepticism about the location which we had faced before the 2019 version went unmentioned this time. The benefits of having the show were very tangible, when visitors were able to actually, not only see, but board and take tours of the 6 working vessels in the marinas just at the foot of KEC, 2 minutes’ walk from the exhibition entrance. The vessels were CTVs (crew transfer vessels) from Cwind and Hung Hua as well as 2 OGTs (ocean going tugs) and one large salvage vessel from Asian Marine based in Kaohsiung. In addition, Melchers Trading placed a fully-built out office container from Hoover Ferguson into the hall, possible only because of the huge freight doors and 5-ton floor loading of the hall in Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. For WEA 2021, we foresee a repeat of the The largest of 6 vessels docked at the marinas at the foot of the exhibition hall. The vessel tours were popular vessels and probably more, and a larger 40-foot container kitted out as a dormitory. local suppliers have not had the time to go the local market and to export to the rest of We aspire to get visit permits to China down the learning curve. The development of Asia, as newer markets come online. Shipbuilding’s dry dock, tours of Xinda Port, a strong local supply chain is crucial and there a 20-minute drive away and key for the is no time to lose! Wind Energy Asia is As the government contracts being awarded build-up of foundations and for future specifically designed to contribute towards at this time are all offshore, this dominates operations and maintenance activities and this end. Helping to find local partners who attention. The argument, as in many other ideally of the Metal Industries Research and are capable of using foreign technology to places, is that Taiwan is too crowded for Development Center’s (MIRDC) brand-new produce components at an internationally onshore given its size and population density. training facility. All this cannot be competitive price. Creating the talent to feed But once harbors, industrial zones and experienced in Taipei in the North. the industry, develop it and improve it. freeways are taken into consideration this might change. And with the impressive The wind industry in Taiwan is backed by a Already in a host of other industries: development of floating wind, one wonders very strong investment by the Taiwan central semiconductors, cell phones, bicycles, where the future development lies. The government which has committed about US$ gaming to name a few Taiwan has proven to sizeable French delegation who made the trip 90 billion towards the goal of obtaining 20% of have the innovativeness, tenacity and despite the virus, certainly strengthened the its power from renewables by 2025 first, and investment power required. This small island, floating wind discussion. For this reason, then add 1GW each year thereafter, for a total located between China and the vast Pacific, despite offshore getting a lot of airtime, the of 15.5GM by 2035. But the industry is under a has 24 million people with a strong work Wind Energy Asia welcomes all sectors of the lot of pressure due to the short deadlines and ethic, strong technical universities and a wind industry. localization requirements developers need to relatively low labor cost which makes it a commit to. Currently these are very low, but great choice to use as a base for The event has already become the focus of will increase over the years. manufacturing wind energy components for the industry in a market that cannot turn back. The elections in January confirmed Taiwan’s Still today, many components are either not commitment to democracy and amongst available locally or too expensive because others, to green energy. Taiwan’s energy independence is a must, to reduce its dependence on imports, to reduce pollution and improve air quality, to meet its commitment to international accords in the world’s race to reduce CO2 emissions. The wind industry has recognized the value of Taiwan, and most developers and Tier 1 vendors have established their Asian headquarters here. The strong legal environment and respect for the rule of law is also a big factor. Foreign companies offering their technology can do it without the risk of being ripped off by their partner as many Asian horror stories tell. Strong tech-oriented partners interested in developing and upgrading into a growth market, are interested in joint-venturing for the long- term. Taiwan has a lot to offer. And definitely in wind energy. Come be a part of this exciting new industry in this unfolding market! www.windenergy-asia.com Great conversations were had in the exhibition hall, with 136 companies showing their wares www.intercon.com.tw 14 PES WIND



TALKING POINT U.S. offshore wind: an ambitious project Anyone familiar with the current offshore wind (OSW) project pipeline along the United States’ East Coast, knows that this undertaking has great potential to turn into the envisioned one trillion-dollar industry in the coming decades. The current plan is to install 13 offshore wind farms totaling 9.1GW power output by 2026 [AWEA Status Update 2020], with industry experts predicting to overtake the European market 20 years from now. 16 PES WIND

TALKING POINT This ambitious project poses an immense their perspective on OSW’s future in the U.S. States was 105,583 megawatts, a capacity challenge, but also a once-in-a-lifetime and their plan to use onshore industry exceeded only by China. With such expansive opportunity for the entire American experience to move offshore wind forward. growth on the horizon, two companies had waterfront. Are we ready to handle the world’s an idea to come together to fill the existing largest offshore wind turbines, and how can From onshore to offshore gap between marine and port operations. In we bridge existing gaps between industry 2019, SEA.O.G. Offshore was established as expectations and currently available cabotage With more than 60,000 onshore turbines an integrated service provider for the United compliant solutions? Lessons learned from planted across 41 states, wind has already States’ offshore wind sector. the existing U.S. onshore wind industry can become the most significant renewable help us to provide the skillsets necessary. energy source in the United States. As of The joint venture brought together Gulf Today we hear from SEA.O.G. Offshore about January 2020, the total installed wind power Marine Contractors (GMC), a leading marine nameplate generating capacity in the United WWW.PESWIND.COM 17

TALKING POINT agency and offshore logistics provider in the transports. Their eye for using Executive (HSE). This advancement was first Gulf of Mexico, and SEA.O.G., a full-service technological advancement to solve performed for the world’s largest wind engineering and heavy lift management firm common issues proved to influence the turbine original equipment manufacturer for the U.S. onshore wind industry. industry tremendously. (OEM). Subsequently, after its success, the marine engineering and HSE procedures ‘SEA.O.G. had a reputation of contributing to One of SEA.O.G.’s most notable inventions were implemented globally, resulting in a the advancement of the renewable energy addressed the threat of cargo fires from hot 100% reduction in reportable fires onboard industry within the U.S.,’ says Clark Buffam, work operations while sea fastening or during hot work operations in the United Chief Operating Officer of GMC. ‘We knew releasing sea fastening, which is a major States and Canada. they were a household name in the industry hazard to project shippers, heavy lift and had unparalleled experience in WTG shipping companies, and marine terminal As the company continued to provide unique handling and transportation.’ operators alike. SEA.O.G. engineered a maritime solutions for the wind turbine standardized sea fastening arrangement, transportation industry, it had many James Clouse, Chief Executive Officer of coupled with administrative controls opportunities to introduce new technology SEA.O.G., says it was GMC’s track record of compiled by their marine Health and Safety to streamline operations. In 2016, after simplifying client’s transportation needs in some of the world’s most challenging sectors that first brought his attention to the company. ‘GMC built their business by providing best in class logistics solutions to the world’s leading EPC contractors,’ says Clouse. ‘We knew they had the vision and execution ability that was desperately needed in the offshore wind industry.’ With the knowledge that both organizations had highly transferrable skillsets to the North American Offshore Segment, SEA.O.G. Offshore was founded with a common goal of providing safe, innovative solutions to advance marine operations in offshore wind. Solving problems through technology In 2015, SEA.O.G. first entered the marketplace as a service provider to the U.S. offshore renewables industry. Over the years, the company developed a reputation for solving the most complex turbine 18 PES WIND

TALKING POINT observing that marine operation reporting Bringing in the marine operation experts OEMs to address these challenges by methods were outdated and inefficient, the assisting in port and transport equipment company created Trakreport. This now Meanwhile, Gulf Marine Contractors was selection for these larger components. In widely-used, navigable interface gives the founded in 2017 with a goal of offering a wide doing so, GMC and SEA.O.G. pioneered the user a global view of shipments. TrakReport range of support, including offshore and use of inland tug and barge to transport wind makes it possible for a user to check-in with marine services, port agency, crew logistics, turbine components in the U.S. inland cargo at any transfer point, through status freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and waterway system. Through this use of tug updates and port notifications. Furthermore, chartering. The company quickly grew by and barge transport, the two companies cargo inspectors can use TrakReport as a embracing and utilizing technology in the engineered and performed the largest single digital checklist and upload photos of any industry. Valuing technology and seeing it as transport of wind turbine components within damage to individual cargo pieces. Surveyors an integral of the industry’s future is the United States. and inspectors can also upload information something that would eventually bring GMC about cargo vessels, creating a database of and SEA.O.G. together. After successfully collaborating on the inland vessel specifications and equipment fittings. marine business, it became clear that they This information, once captured, is available ‘In the early days, we were doing a lot of tug wanted to enter the offshore wind industry, for retrieval at any time via the cloud. and barge work for the offshore drilling and bringing their skillsets together on a new subsea industry,’ says Buffam. ‘That’s how we frontier. Keeping technology innovation and In 2017, the company continued its bid to first became acquainted with SEA.O.G. Since expertise in marine operations at the bring innovation to the industry. SEA.O.G. we were a start-up, we leaned on SEA.O.G.’s forefront, SEA.O.G. Offshore entered the observed that turbine transports were in-house engineering team to help our marketplace, providing a wide range of local stretching the capable truck capacity for operations team with various stow plans, services to developers, OEMs, and Tier 1 and hauling, especially when it came to stability calculations, among other things.’ Tier 2 Contractors. shuttling. Their solution was creating high throughput terminal models supporting JIT Likewise, when SEA.O.G. needed operational To date, SEA.O.G. and GMC have contributed site deliveries, low footprint, efficient or compliance support, the company would to the safe transportation of nearly 30,000 transfer of components. The company reach out to GMC for help and advice. During turbine components for over 400 wind utilized port infrastructure to eradicate the this period, the two companies aimed to projects in the U.S. and Canada, engineering, need for double handling components. solve another industry issue together. and coordinating nearly 1,500 components SEA.O.G. also eliminated shuttle trucks, SEA.O.G recognized that the rotor diameters by tug and barge. bringing in the correct cranes and cargo in the United States continued to increase, handling equipment to ensure quick causing components to become larger and Moving wind over water throughput. This new process allowed the larger. This created issues with vessel intake, lay down of over 400 3MW components a ship’s ability to perform self-sustaining It’s an exciting time for the United States’ without requiring shuttle trucks to reload discharges, and created new problems with offshore wind industry. Yet, SEA.O.G. them to rail, ultimately saving the OEM inland transportation projects. Offshore says that with significant growth on several hundred dollars per component. the horizon, the success of OSW industry in Together the companies worked with the the United States is dependent on WWW.PESWIND.COM 19

TALKING POINT ‘The company quickly grew by embracing and utilizing technology in the industry.’ transporting specialized equipment safely Today, a Jones Act compliant wind turbine United States. Instead of investing in WTIVs and efficiently and addressing gaps in the installation vessel (WTIV) working for an that have limitations in offshore installation installation process. individual developer can only install one application, SEA.O.G. believes existing tug proposed farm offshore during peak season and barge infrastructure combined with ‘We understand the turbine supply chain and only create around one hundred full-time groundbreaking technology, can fill the from experience.’ says James Clouse, Chief positions, all while costing upwards of 500 industry’s current ask. More so, dozens of Executive Officer of SEA.O.G. ‘The biggest million USD. shipyards are, at this moment, capable of challenges the industry faces right now are delivering an outfitted barge within months. a lack of infrastructure and the ability to These vessels also create substantial leverage current infrastructure to do the downtime for offshore installation projects ‘We believe ADAPT Barges will solve the job right.’ because WTIVs cannot reach many existing installation problem the U.S. offshore wind ports in operation and laydown areas. In industry has while promoting existing Jones Currently, there are no clear indications of answer to what the industry is currently Act infrastructure with ensuring maximum how the existing Jones Act infrastructure will asking for, SEA.O.G. Offshore has tapped benefit to the project state’, says Clouse. support OSW installation. Regulations do not into their experience in transporting wind ‘This is what SEA.O.G. Offshore is all about: address how LCOE can be lowered while components with barges. using what we have and transforming it with simultaneously offering a new build program technology, to the benefit of all involved.’ with the most significant economic benefits The company has proposed ADAPT Barges as for the people of project states. a solution to offshore wind installation in the www.seaofgravity.com/offshore 20 PES WIND



COMMENT: RENEWABLE ENERGY The circular economy Words: Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables The declaration of a climate emergency in Scotland, quickly followed by the rest of the UK, has been a boon for the renewable energy sector. After all, without clean power, heat and transport fuels, our ambitious net-zero targets are totally out of reach. But we know tackling the carbon emissions • recycling - where products are separated Morag Watson caused by our increasing demand for energy into component parts and materials to be isn’t enough on its own. The world’s raw used in new products innovative techniques, including blade resources are limited. As demand for these recoating and component replacement, the resources increase, supplies deplete, driving • b y altering design and manufacturing company is working hard to increase the up costs. processes to reduce or eliminate waste lifespan of blades and to divert them from landfill. It is also working in collaboration It’s imperative that we change the way we Adopting a circular approach presents a with academia to commercialise recycling use products and materials, and Scotland’s great opportunity for many sectors across fibreglass for the wind industry, which ambition for a circular economy shows we are the country, including onshore wind. would offer a long-term solution to committed to making that change. reducing blade waste. As 2030 approaches, a significant number of The circular economy represents an our wind farms will reach the end of their opportunity to move away from the linear 20-25 year lives. With 80% of a modern wind approach of creating and delivering a product turbine recyclable, industry is looking at what or service that is disposed of at the end of its is next for these turbines and their life. This waste represents an enormous pool components. of resources that can be exploited with minimal impact on the environment. A number of businesses in onshore wind are already harnessing the opportunities A circular economy focuses on responsible presented by a circular economy. production: businesses which supply products and services get the maximum life Wind turbine blades are made of fibreglass or and value from the resources used to make carbon fibre and are complicated to recycle, them, keeping these resources in a often ending up in landfill sites once they continuous loop of re-use. reach their end of life. Doing that can take a number of forms: Turbine blade repair specialist Renewable Advice is working to change that. The • from re-use and repair -where a product’s company is the UK’s leading expert in blade lifecycle is extended by maintenance repair, inspection and maintenance. • r emanufacturing - where a product is Highly-skilled blade engineers carry out repurposed at the end of its ‘first life’ to various refurbishments, ranging from enable further uses cleaning to large structural repairs. Using 22 PES WIND

COMMENT: RENEWABLE ENERGY ‘New organisations emerging into the industry are also developing their business plans to align with the circular economy..’ It’s not only the environment that benefits develops long-term relationships with its Because it’s produced in modules, this new from a circular economy clients, providing them with access to spare blade design can be manufactured by existing turbine parts at a lower cost and with a supply chains at a lower cost, and through a far There is opportunity for businesses to grow shorter lead time than a standard supplier. simpler and faster assembly process. and develop by getting the most value out of their resources. Scotland’s society is also benefitting from a The circular economy is key part of the circular economy. As businesses adopt a solution to our global climate emergency Argyll-based Renewable Parts is one of these service model approach to doing business, companies. Its business model is wholly job opportunities are created in communities Scotland’s onshore wind sector must shaped around remanufacturing and reusing across the country, as Renewable Parts’ continue to embrace it and the benefits it wind turbine components. remanufacturing centre in remote can bring to not only the environment but Lochgilphead, Argyll, shows. to individual businesses and the people in CEO James Barry – a regular speaker at our communities. Scottish Renewables events and one of our New organisations emerging into the most active members – tells audiences that industry are also developing their business This is not just an opportunity for the energy he’s passionate about the need for the plans to align with the circular economy. supply chain to be more sustainable, but to renewable energy industry itself to get prosper in the future too. greener. That includes recycling materials Edinburgh-based ACT Blade is designing, that are unserviceable and returning them building and testing the next generation of Making used parts a saleable asset at the end back into the market, cutting their whole- wind turbine blades, with circularity at the of a project’s life will not only help to reduce lifecycle carbon impact in the process. heart of its manufacturing process. end-of-life costs but will also play a role in reducing the price of wind energy as demand The company works with wind power Using technology adapted from the sailing for raw materials is reduced. developers to increase the reuse of industry it has designed a blade using a component parts from decommissioned combination of carbon fibre structure and Increased deployment of renewable wind turbines. These components are then textile, making it partly recyclable. generation across the country is vital if we’re re-entered into the supply chain to be used to meet our net-zero ambitions. on other wind farm sites. Using this new material means that the blade is 50% lighter and 30% stronger than a And it is essential that we achieve this using By providing both a product and a service, standard fibreglass blade. This lower weight the fewest resources and in the most and by getting maximum value out of used also means that blade length can be sustainable way possible. turbine components, Renewable Parts increased, boosting the energy produced by more than 9%. www.scottishrenewables.com WWW.PESWIND.COM 23

PES ESSENTIAL Digitalisation crucial to satisfying investor needs amid evolving post-subsidy market challenges Words: Jonas Corné, CEO, Greenbyte 24 PES WIND

PES ESSENTIAL It is not an understatement to say that 2020 has been one of the most turbulent years in recent history, with the Covid-19 pandemic leading to seismic shifts in industries the world-over. But despite significant supply chain disruption, the renewables industry has remained remarkably resilient compared to conventional power and wider infrastructure asset classes. A growing variety of investors have Jonas Corné subsequently entered the space, expecting to grab a slice of the pie and reap the dual for renewables owners to provide greater benefits of non-correlated returns and transparency on asset performance data has greener credentials. But the renewable correspondingly grown. energy market is not so black and white. Broader trends at play in the space are Sophisticated monitoring systems which can generating new investor needs, and provide highly accurate data on individual asset renewables owners must adapt their and broader portfolio performance are already offerings to meet these accordingly. available on the market. By identifying trends in asset performance, such software can Indeed, the renewables market has been identify underperformance and non- undergoing a shift of its own amid the phase compliance to OEM and ISP backed availability out of state-backed subsidies, with portfolios contracts and even predict when assets will growing more diverse and owners adopting fail, enabling renewables owners to maintain more merchant-led approaches. This has assets on a preventative basis - reducing raised several new challenges in the industry downtime and extending asset life expectancy. as projects have become increasingly exposed to volatile power prices. Advanced asset management systems can also enable renewable energy owners to Whilst the renewables sector has continued receive continuous insights into the status of to perform strongly during the pandemic, the their portfolio remotely, instead of having to coronavirus has brought these new market rely on static reports from on-site teams. risks to the fore, and developers and Renewables owners that implement these renewables project owners now need to platforms can therefore provide investors provide investors with confidence around the with enhanced oversight of technical business case of their projects to encourage performance - enhancing their understanding future investment. of assets’ capabilities and allowing them to more effectively identify and acquire assets Understanding market conditions and their which fit their investment strategy. impact on a project will be a crucial part of post-subsidy asset management. Indeed, in However, attaining this level of data a ‘fully merchant’ environment, the task of transparency can be problematic, managing the financial risks involved in particularly in larger portfolios. energy sales may be equal to – or greater than – the challenge of maintaining technical performance. Renewable energy owners need to adopt digital software platforms that can future-proof portfolios by mitigating technical and market risks in tandem. Only by meeting this challenge will owners be able to satisfy and retain new investors in a post-subsidy environment. Driving investor confidence - data transparency The wave of new investors entering the renewable energy market has substantially increased competition in the sector. To make up for their lack of industry experience, many investors have sought to improve their understanding of the market, and demand WWW.PESWIND.COM 25

PES ESSENTIAL Technical challenges - asset diversity providing greater returns for investors. investors that market risks impacting post-subsidy projects can be mitigated As the renewable energy market has matured, In addition, by gathering detailed information effectively. Moving towards asset portfolios have diversified both technologically from across asset classes and technologies, management platforms which integrate data and geographically, with new markets and technology-agnostic management systems from the assets, external forecasting and innovations such as floating solar and wind can rapidly identify and mitigate underlying electricity price data is therefore crucial to now accessible for project development. issues in underperforming assets, minimising encouraging new investors to commit capital Though this has enabled renewables owners to operational and financial impacts. to renewables projects over the long-term. spread risk, incorporating multiple asset classes into one portfolio has left operators Market challenges - merchant risk Conclusion facing a new set of problems. These challenges around data transparency Renewable energy operators urgently need Individual technologies often come with their and technical complexity have been two of the to recognise how greater exposure to own unique performance monitoring main drivers of software innovation to date. merchant risk is driving new investor needs systems, which, whilst extremely useful for But as portfolios expand and the shift towards and look to implement strategies which can monitoring the performance of individual merchant-led approaches continues, exposure future-proof their portfolios in a post- asset technologies, are ill-suited to to market-specific power price fluctuations subsidy market. Digital asset management managing assets across large portfolios and other financial risks is also growing. technologies which can provide data where multiple technologies are in play. This transparency across both internal asset is down to the fact that bespoke monitoring Marrying these external factors with performance data and external market systems produce data in non-comparable technical asset performance data is essential factors are no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, but a formats, leaving renewables owners unable to managing portfolio risks and reporting to critical part of portfolio management that is to easily calculate portfolio-wide asset investors. Indeed, in fast-moving markets, fundamental to attracting investment. performance or identify macro-trends which renewables portfolio owners who cannot could inform broader decision-making. centralise asset performance data alongside We may still be a long way from ‘full data on market-specific risks, will likely miss automation’ of renewable energy assets, but Demonstrating to investors that a portfolio out on opportunities to woo new investors. integrating these data streams is the next step can generate the revenues it claims can towards a portfolio operating system that therefore prove rather difficult. Fortunately, This is particularly true in light of Covid-19, comprehensively accounts for the technical independent software providers have which ably demonstrated that significant and financial risks that impact profitability. developed technology-agnostic asset fluctuations in energy demand and price can management systems to solve this. and will happen, leading to negative power Indeed, the success of the transition towards prices and assets being forcibly curtailed. merchant-led approaches hinges on the Such systems can draw information from any These challenges are becoming an continuous development and bespoke monitoring system into a increasingly significant threat to renewables implementation of sophisticated digital comparable format and are fast becoming an owners and present a potential obstacle to asset management approaches. Project essential for large portfolio owners, enabling investors as the market evolves towards a operators who can demonstrate their ability them to set portfolio-wide performance ‘fully merchant’ environment. now to manage assets, maximise returns and benchmarks. Implementing such software is reduce project risk will be the first to benefit key to optimising asset performance as To tackle this, renewables operators need to from rapidly growing investor appetite. portfolios scale and diversify, and ultimately implement a more active, hands-on asset management style to demonstrate to www.greenbyte.com 26 PES WIND

ASK THE EXPERTS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT Integrated quality control in offshore wind WWW.PESWIND.COM 27

ASK THE EXPERTS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT PES caught up with Wim Keen, CSO of STEEL INSPECT. He was happy to tell us about the services the company provides to the offshore wind energy sector and gave an introduction to their unique total quality concept, Q7, which is used to manage the quality of complete offshore wind EPCI projects. PES: Hi Wim, welcome to PES Wind, it’s so how important is the wind and offshore Wim Keen great to have this opportunity to talk with renewables business to STEEL INSPECT? you. Would you like to begin by telling us PES: We would like to hear more about the something about the background of Steel WK: The offshore wind energy sector is Q7 concept? Inspect and how Steel Inspect currently extremely important for us. Currently it serves the offshore wind energy sector? generates more than a 3rd of our annual WK: The Q7 concept is a holistic quality turnover. assurance concept for complete EPCI Wim Keen: Steel Inspect was founded in offshore wind farm construction projects. 2006 by Maik Rienecker. He gained wide Looking over the last 10 years our experience Used when applying to manage an offshore experience in worldwide EPCI powerplant within the offshore wind industry is based on wind farm project from start to finish: with construction projects, which he capitalized around 20 projects. The more recent ones a self-managed and self-installed team, on to found STEEL INSPECT. Our aim is to include Wikinger, Merkur Offshore, Hohe from design up until and including hand serve the construction sector, by capitalizing See, Moray East, Danish Kriegers Flak and the on his knowledge on how to manage large brand new Kaskasi project. construction projects, so that they are completed with optimal quality and within PES: You currently provide several best time frames. different services to the offshore wind industry, we would like to know more, can Since 2011 STEEL INSPECT has served the you expand on these? offshore wind sector, helping large offshore wind farm projects to be completed to the WK: We secure quality in EPCI offshore wind highest standard. Projects in the offshore projects, serving not only wind farm wind energy sector are large and complex, developers, but also EPCI contractors. Our often with multiple suppliers and production core competence lies not only in quality sites. This calls for a lot of coordination and assurance and quality control in the ongoing expertise. We use our expertise and production of any kind of steel for offshore experience to make sure these projects wind farms: foundations, transition pieces come out as planned and within budgets and and substations, but also in ahead planning time frames promised to our clients. of quality, quality documentation, selection of suppliers, and also in the securing of PES: We know you work in a variety of sectors, quality in transport and installation (T&I) and commissioning. EPC-QC / Project Integrated Quality Control Project Management Hand Maintenance Over Scope, Cost (int/ext),Time Schedule, Capacity, Risk Operation Construction Tender Engineering Procure- Fabrication ment Plant Q7 Quality Control Specifi- cation Supplier Evaluation, Fabrication and Site Plants in Construction Operation Quality&TimeControl Asset Management Product Structure & Document Management The main added value is the holistic approach of integrated project quality control & time supervision throughout all project implementation phases to efficiently reduce costs on quality and to improve time awareness! 28 PES WIND

ASK THE EXPERTS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT over to operations, which covers 3rd Party Supplier EPC Client procurement, manufacturing, documentation, transport and installation, Fabrication commissioning and handover. Manager PES: What makes STEEL INSPECT ‘s Office Manager Expediter solutions stand out from the competition, what are the benefits to the end user? HSE Inspector WK: We approach the topic of quality Inspector Inspector Inspector Documentation holistically and proactively by forward Welding Coating Outfitting / planning, ahead of quality control. Electric. work Inspector As I explained earlier, by applying the Q7 Welding Inspector Inspector Documentation concept we cover all phases of an EPCI Coating Outfitting project, from design all the way up to and including the handover, with the same team. WK: Health and safety of our staff is our top your main markets are and if these have By overseeing the whole project with the priority. We are certified according to SSC changed over the years and if there is a same team, early intervention is possible. and SCP and comply with all high industrial geographical area you would particularly Thus, preventing eventual setbacks to the safety standards. Staff that go offshore have like to break into? project further down the line. all the valid GWO certificates. We regularly carry out training for our staff and send them WK: Europe is the birthplace of offshore Furthermore, our staff has experience on third party safety courses, like fall wind. This is where most of our projects and gained from multiple offshore wind projects, protection training. We strictly monitor the clients are based. which they use to benefit our clients: from validity of all safety certificates of our staff experience they know what quality and have regular safety update courses. We are seeing a growing demand for our bottlenecks can occur during a project and services in Asia, in upcoming markets like will proactively anticipate that to prevent PES: We would be interested to know where Taiwan, South-Korea, Vietnam where there these holdups. is a high need for our expertise in setting up As just one example we are able to cover the necessary organisation in a fabrication workshop based on a considerable QA/QC knowledge and experience, as well as on ability to lead such an organisation on behalf of a client who contracted the supplier. PES: How important is health and safety to you as a company, do you have a regular training program for your employees? WWW.PESWIND.COM 29

ASK THE EXPERTS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT ‘As political leaders around the world have stated, renewable energy is a way to fight the corona crisis, offshore wind will continue to grow worldwide.’ quality systems and training for offshore Q3 Check and verification of final fabrication work is to be executed to their requests. wind EPCI projects. documentation PES: What do you think will be the greatest We have anticipated this demand by opening Q4 Transport and load out inspections of opportunities and the greatest challenges, an office in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Additionally, MPs and TPs. for the wind industry in general and Steel we have a branch office in Abu Dhabi, United Inspect in particular, over the next few Arab Emirates from where we serve clients in Currently we are still busy with fabrication years, and where do you see yourselves in the Gulf region. Our Abu Dhabi office supervision and process monitoring i.e.: 5 years’ time? managed the Moray East project at manufacturing, welding, coating for the Lamprell’s Sharjah facility. We carried out the DKF towers. WK: The good thing in these Covid-19 times quality control on 45 wind turbine jacket is that investment in offshore wind energy is foundations and 3 substation foundations. Another added value for our clients is unbroken and projects proceed. As political Our scope was quality control for welding and know-how transfer throughout all the leaders around the world have stated, coating. We successfully completed this execution phases, qualified and experienced renewable energy is a way to fight the corona project recently. We are studying future manpower, having the right mindset and last crisis, offshore wind will continue to grow markets like Japan and North America. With but not least, optimised costs. worldwide. As we are very experienced in our worldwide set up we can quickly wind energy and have a worldwide set up, we anticipate any impending local needs. Our next project starting in November will be will accompany this growth with our the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) Project also expertise and specialized staff. PES: Can you give an example of a project for Vattenfall. you were involved in and what the benefit to In 5 years from now we will have served not your client was? PES: How has the current coronavirus only clients in Europe who have built offshore situation impacted on your business? How wind farms, but also clients in Asia and North WK: The latest project Danish Kriegers Flak do you see this developing over the next America, for whom we will not only have been (DKF) for Vattenfall must be mentioned. Here 6-12 months? able to set up quality standards towards their we started with: supply chain, but also to secure quality WK: The trend in offshore wind goes toward throughout their projects - be it in production Q1 Review of quality plans, fabrication and international projects with multinational or installation of their components. inspection schedules at supplier locations sites where specialized staff is required at different sites in different countries. Due to www.steelinspect.com Q2 Fabrication monitoring and process the corona virus our clients ask for local inspections for MPs and TPS experts, who live in the country where the Keen on media media productions 30 PES WIND

STEEL INSPECT® WIND Q7 worldwide quality consulting PLANT Steel Inspect provides Quality throughout all Project Execution Phases because quality matters 1 Design Check and Procurement Support 2 Manufacturing Control and Expediting steelinspect.com 3 Documentation Support 4 Inspections prior to Transport 5 Preparation for Erection & Installation 6 QC for Erection and Commissioning Stage 7 Final Acceptance and Handover

THINK TANK Challenges in offshore wind farm installation Words: S tefan Wenau, Viola Bihler, Aisgo Oguro, Julia Haberkern, Gino Frielinghaus, Benedict Preu In recent years, the construction of offshore wind farms has flourished as many countries strive to increase the share of renewable energy in their overall energy mix. Offshore wind offers some significant advantages compared to onshore developments, including stronger and more stable wind conditions ensuring a more dependable energy output, sufficient space in the national EEZs for large projects, and, last but not least, increased public acceptance compared with onshore developments. These benefits have fueled the realization of shaped by extensive glaciations in their Unfortunately, conventional geophysical numerous projects not only in the North Sea, recent geological history. The identification methods including sub-bottom profilers, but also in many other shallow-water, of widespread boulder-prone sediments in single-channel seismics, and magnetic mid-latitude areas of the world. However, the the shallow sub-seafloor is a common measurements cannot reliably detect and nature of offshore wind turbine generator challenge for pre-site surveys in these areas. localize boulders due to their physical (WTG) foundations and offshore characteristics: limited size, non-magnetic environmental conditions pose serious Such glacial boulders usually consist of material. As such, even extensive challenges for the construction of wind farms. crystalline rock and are encountered in sizes geophysical site surveys leave a considerable of <1 m to >5 m. They were transported from remnant risk of undetected boulder Today, WTG foundations are most often the glacial source regions during glacial occurrences that could obstruct foundation constructed as monopiles: large-diameter: periods and deposited in glacial till units. installation and lead to an increase in costs 5 -10 m steel pipes that are rammed, or Boulders may also occur on non-glaciated and delays in wind farm development. vibrated into the seafloor sediments to a margins, e.g., in conglomerate layers, depth of 30-80 m. However, several other volcanic deposits, and subsiding beach rocks, The Fraunhofer IWES Manta Ray system foundation types have been used, e.g., jacket which pose similar challenges for the and gravity foundations and, more recently, installation of offshore infrastructure. In order to address this technological gap, suction buckets in conjunction with Fraunhofer IWES, together with the University monopoles or jackets. Encountering boulders during pile installation of Bremen, developed the Manta Ray system, may result in damage to the foundation or to a a new geophysical tool for offshore sub- The decisions as regards foundation types and complete refusal of the pile installation seafloor boulder surveys. This novel data necessary installation depths generally depend process. Pile refusal requires a significant acquisition system in conjunction with a highly on the local geotechnical characteristics of the additional remediation effort, including either specialized data processing procedure is encountered sediments. Foundations are the removal or abandonment of the pile. capable of reliably detecting objects, i.e., designed in the appropriate dimensions for Associated stand-by costs for additional ships boulders, on the seafloor and, most suitable installation locations depending on the and backup replacement piles further increase importantly, also within the marine sediments findings of extensive geophysical and the costs of mitigating boulder-related down to maximum foundation depth. geotechnical pre-site surveys, which establish installation issues. Therefore, avoiding sites the geological character of the area. showing a high probability for the presence of It is based on multichannel seismic principles boulders based on the findings of pre-site using a custom-designed array of Typical areas for offshore wind development, surveys would lead to a great reduction in hydrophones for signal recording and an e.g., Northern Europe, were predominantly installation risk and costs. appropriate high-frequency seismic signal 32 PES WIND

THINK TANK Fig. 2: The Manta Ray prototype during sea trials in the North Sea source. While conventional seismic methods Fig. 1: The new Manta Ray system uses diffracted energy to map boulders in the sub-seafloor to full installation commonly image sub-surface structures depths in various geological units utilizing reflected energy, the Manta Ray system images diffracted energy. Diffractions are caused by individual objects (e.g., boulders) in the sub-surface, whereas reflections are generally caused by laterally extensive surfaces, such as boundary surfaces between sediment units. Therefore, the accurate recording, processing, and interpretation of the acquired seismic diffraction data allows the Manta Ray system to map individual objects in the sub-seafloor. Objects are reliably detected down to a depth of approximately 100 m below the seafloor in shallow water areas of the North and Baltic Seas, covering the foundation depths of bucket foundations as well as large monopiles. Simultaneously to the acquisition of seismic diffraction data, the Manta Ray is capable of acquiring ultra-high-resolution (UHR) 2D seismic reflection data, used for a detailed geological interpretation of the survey area. The combination of high-precision positioning systems, a custom-designed survey strategy, and an effective data processing routine results in a high-resolution seismic diffraction and UHR seismic reflection dataset for subsequent interpretation. Data analysis is based on proprietary processing algorithms to identify and localize objects confidently in various geological units. The versatile interpretation workflow integrates the statistical analysis of seismic diffraction data and a stratigraphic interpretation of geological units from the seismic reflection data. The results comprise the locations and burial depths of identified objects including localization error estimates and a geological interpretation of identified WWW.PESWIND.COM 33

THINK TANK objects within their respective sedimentary units. These results may be used not only to avoid areas of high boulder risk, but also to find optimized low-risk locations in the immediate vicinity via micro-siting of the planned installations. State-of-the art boulder detection surveys for offshore wind farm areas The Manta Ray system has been deployed in a number of sea trials in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea sectors in order to validate the method. Recently, it showed its potential during the successful implementation of a first commercial survey for wind farm installation de-risking. A Manta Ray survey, followed by subsequent data processing and interpretation, resulted in the confident mapping of boulder occurrences over the full installation depth. Typical survey work using the Manta Ray Fig. 3: Data processing results for a WTG location showing different levels of diffraction energy observed in targets limited areas around planned WTG individual grid cells locations (e.g., 100 x 100 m). The data acquisition time needed for one such through the de-risking of construction sites surveying and wind industry. One important location is between 6 and 12 hours, with regard to boulder occurrence. challenge is the mapping of installed offshore depending on the overall survey layout, cables, including depth-of-burial vessel mobilization, and other campaign Future applications of the Manta Ray measurements, in order to confirm constraints. Due to the high achievable system installation success and perform periodic survey speeds of up to 5 knots and swath monitoring during cable operation. imaging capabilities of the Manta Ray, Besides the de-risking of WTG positions for efficient full field surveys are also possible boulder occurrence, the de-risking of cable Additionally, unexploded ordnance (UxO) but should be included in the planning corridors and other offshore infrastructure pose a serious threat for any seafloor process at an earlier stage than de-risking projects such as platform construction and activities in many marine areas. Fraunhofer surveys for individual WTG-foundations. dredging operations are other possible IWES plans to further develop the Manta Ray applications for the Manta Ray system. The system to detect buried UxO, which have Data processing and interpretation are system can be easily adjusted to the sizes of proven difficult to image using conventional carried out in close cooperation with the boulders that are of interest for individual surveying systems, especially in the case of client to ensure result-oriented work and projects as well as the depth below seafloor non-magnetic UxO. individually designed deliverables. that is targeted. Processing times are in the order of several Conclusion weeks owing to sophisticated data The success of the Manta Ray system has processing procedures and careful prompted Fraunhofer IWES to pursue further This new boulder detection methodology is a interpretation of results. The final results research and development projects into the significant addition to the Fraunhofer IWES allow the client to ensure the safe, new method. Upcoming activities target portfolio, which focuses on the validation of time-efficient, and cost-efficient various topics relevant to the offshore wind energy in all of its aspects through construction of offshore infrastructure research and development together with various industry partners. The successful implementation of a geophysical mapping tool for boulders down to the installation depths of typical WTG foundations is a major step forward in de-risking offshore wind developments and facilitating wind farm construction. Fig. 4: Interpretation results showing encountered targets in different geological units with maximum The efficient investigation of sub-seafloor localization errors object occurrence that is made possible with the Manta Ray system significantly lowers costs during pre-site surveying, compared with time-consuming geotechnical surveys or seafloor-based measurements, and simultaneously increases the safety and speed of foundation installation. Further research based on the Manta Ray system at Fraunhofer IWES will contribute to continued improvements to the method, the survey design, and data analysis, further heightening the methods’ utility for the offshore industry. www.iwes.fraunhofer.de 34 PES WIND



THINK TANK Measuring wind farm ‘fuel’ efficiency Can you name any other energy plant that you build, operate and try to understand if it’s performing efficiently, without actually measuring the fuel that you’re supplying? A wind farm is often exactly that. According to a recent ‘A Word About Wind’ it has meant that estimations of wind speed Based Lidars do something that has never study, almost 50% of those surveyed placed based on rotor speed, power generation or realistically been achievable before: assess the validation of their production plant as the forecasting are often the only choice. the entire wind field approaching the turbine, Number One priority for them – and currently across the whole rotor from bottom tip, almost half the interviewed were not In contrast, Nacelle Based Lidars remotely through hub height and to top tip. This confident in what’s actually happening with and precisely measure the wind ahead of a wealth of data is enabling the industry to go their asset at any given time. turbine and provide meaningful validations of beyond existing practice, and indeed IEC how wind turbines and wind farms are standards, creating new wind measurement Until recent years the cost and complexity of performing providing information for asset baselines and allowing innovative operational measuring with met masts across a wind optimisation. In wind farm development strategies. And also, for wind turbine OEMs farm has made this measure of wind farm Ground Based Lidars have replaced the need to broaden further their own understanding ‘fuel’, i.e. the wind, impractical. Nacelle or for met masts as, according to a recent study of new turbine design performance. spinner anemometry is given the challenging by renewable energy company RES, they are job of trying to do its best whilst measuring ‘safer, cheaper, faster and better’. What is a wind Lidar? wind behind, or close the rotor and the disturbed air flow. Add to that site However, with respect to on-turbine The principles of Ground Based Lidars are complexity, wakes and turbine array effects… measurements the more advanced Nacelle well known and widely published and are summarised in Figure 1. 36 PES WIND

THINK TANK Figure 1: Ground Based Lidar principles of measurement WWW.PESWIND.COM 37

THINK TANK A Nacelle Based Lidar is the same, but Figure 2: Nacelle Based Lidar scan pattern turbine performance determination measures horizontally from its installed location on the nacelle roof (or alterative direction. Because the density of In addition to these useful measurement mounting location) of a wind turbine as measurement points is so high, there are parameters, a further advantage unique to shown in Figure 2. always direct readings at hub height, as the circular scan is the ability to detect required by IEC 61400-12 Ed. 2 complex flow caused by wakes and terrain. Wind is measured remotely from close Each mode of operation is illustrated in ranges at just 10 metres out to ranges - a ‘4 beam’ mode, which emulates the Figure 3. beyond 550m. This ensures the nominal 2.5 measurements taken by some wind Lidars Rotor Diameter measurement can be that only provide a pillar-box view of the The ability to measure complex flow allows for achieved in accordance with IEC 61400-12 wind ahead. Unfortunately, a fixed and circular scanning Nacelle Based Lidars to be Ed. 2 for Power Performance Tests on the narrow pillar-box size becomes increasingly used in complex terrain onshore where power most recently launched and largest turbines restrictive as rotors increase in diameter – a performance measurements can be offshore including the GE Haliade-X 12 MW, progressively large blind spot is developed undertaken accurately and more rapidly as the the MVOW V174-9.5 MW and the SGRE Lidar intrinsically recognises clean sectors for 14-222 DD. - a ‘full rotor’ mode, which allows up to 13 inclusion within the turbine test. Category A slices or 26 ‘beams’ to quantify the wind uncertainties are significantly reduced using Wind can and should be characterised field more fully and is often deployed to this approach. Similarly, any turbine according to: overcome the blind spots of a 4-beam experiencing waked conditions will be mode of operation. Vertical sheer and veer identified by the Lidar allowing Annual Energy • W ind speed - Hub height and rotor over the full rotor disk are determined and Production losses to be quantified and equivalent (REWS), and at multiple allow super-accurate determination of curtailment strategies to be implemented. heights over the rotor disk rotor equivalent wind speed (REWS) as described in IEC 61400-12 Ed. 2 and 50-3. Use cases • Vertical shear - Power law shear Rotor equivalent wind speed becomes exponent, as well as determining arbitrary particularly significant as rotor sizes on With the ability of Nacelle Based Lidars shear profiles (anomalous shears, low modern turbines gain in size. With such explained above and useful features level jets etc) large rotors, veer and shear profiles can identified when considering what type of have a significant impact on accurate • W ind yaw misalignment and veer profiles (change in wind direction with height) at multiple heights over the rotor disk • Various turbulence measures, including TI • Flow complexity measures In addition, a locally-mounted Lidar met station provides pressure, temperature, humidity, GPS location, direction while raining frequency and rotor axis alignment to within 0.2 degree accuracy is also determined by on-board Lidar processing. More advanced, modern Nacelle Based Lidars use a circular scan to deliver up to 50 data points at each measurement range of interest – a wind measurement every 20 ms. This high definition view of the upwind conditions allows several use cases to be realised from a single Lidar system including: - a ‘2 beam’ mode, used in some legacy Power Performance Test procedures to measure hub height wind speed and Figure 3: Nacelle Based Lidar modes of operation: 2-beam, 4-beam, 13-slice and full rotor scan (Left to Right) 38 PES WIND

THINK TANK Lidar to use, the context of validating turbine performance and optimising either wind turbine or wind farm configurations can be explored. These Use Cases are defined as simple click-to-select Applications in some Lidar systems. Operational power curve measurements & power performance testing The Nacelle Based Lidar should be Figure 4: Comparison of warranted, operational and SCADA-based power curves identifying SCADA over configured to measure ~2.5D ahead of the estimation and turbine underperformance. Error bars show the Category A standard uncertainties. ZX TM is an turbine, or the Absolute Power Curve or advanced Nacelle Based Lidar. Relative Power Curve Application should be selected and an ability to use both Hub to its mounting, which is close to the significant evidence from enforced Turbine Height and REWS is useful in the case of disturbed flow from the rotor, or due to Supply Agreements that have utilised Nacelle suspected performance deviations in a calibration of the Nacelle Transfer Function Based Lidars for the contractual power turbine. Often changes in wind conditions that can be non-optimal for the actual site performance measurements. above and below Hub Height may be the root conditions experienced. The more accurate cause of any positive or negative impact on Lidar generated power curve allows for more Once a baseline of actual turbine turbine production and would be otherwise targeted analysis. performance has been undertaken and areas overlooked when considering only a Hub of over or under performance vs. real world Height or narrow pillar-box view of the Measurement of the power curve ahead of a wind conditions identified, a series of upwind conditions. project sale can also support recalculation of Application Modes, accessed on the Lidar, the Post Construction Yield Analysis and add assist users in optimising turbine or even Clean sectors are identified using the value to the Net Present Value of the wind wind farm operation. complex flow parameter removing any farm at the point of any project transaction. impact of terrain or wakes. Turbine yaw misalignment In time, IEC 61400-50-3 will recognise the use Warranted power curves are then compared of Nacelle Based Lidar for wind measurements A turbine yaw misalignment to the to the Lidar wind measurement generated and will be supported by the already oncoming wind can lead to sub-optimal power curves and any deviations noted for performance and increased loads. Nacelle further investigation as shown in Figure 4. Based Lidars are used to measure this misalignment so it can be corrected, There are examples of over and under allowing the turbine to convert all available performance in turbines, but generally energy from the wind and limit the loads nacelle anemometry may be inaccurate due experienced during energy to power conversion. Using 50 measurements around the Lidar scan derives the most robust yaw misalignment measurement, a standard output from circular scanning Lidars. A 95% confidence interval delivering < 0.4 degree of any yaw misalignment can be achieved typically within 15-20 days of operation. Alignment of the Lidar to rotor is important (direction of wind is relative to Lidar orientation) and more advanced systems use feedback from the rotor to confirm this to precision accuracy. Figure 5: Example of a Lidar measured wind yaw misalignment The loss of production is calculated at between cos^2 and cos^3 of the misalignment. The example shown in Figure 5 identifies a 6.4 degrees yaw misalignment equating to ~1.5% AEP loss and this can be corrected by inputting an offset in the turbine controller if access is available, or by rotating the nacelle wind direction sensor. WWW.PESWIND.COM 39

THINK TANK The misalignment is removed and the power Figure 6: Wind yaw misalignment as a function of wind speed at 0-3m/s, 3-6m/s, 6-9m/s etc. (Left to Right) curve improvement is confirmed via the Lidar. Misalignments are often wind speed Through the identification of such events as manage wakes across a site to allow for dependent also as shown in Figure 6 and shown in Figure 7, power curves can be increased site production where possible. where possible an adaptive controller generated to calculate energy losses from solution should be implemented. individual turbines that are subject to wake The area of wind turbine and wind farm effects and sectors identified to pinpoint the optimisation is a complex one but offers the It is important to note that Lidars measure origination of the wake. A wind sector potential benefits that justify exploration in the wind yaw misalignment relative to the management strategy can be defined to the methods described above. Appropriate Lidar axis. If the Lidar is installed poorly, the choice of Lidar with the right measurement Lidar axis itself can be misaligned with the capabilities and an appropriate user interface rotor axis. To mitigate this source of will help but collaboration is paramount. The uncertainty, circular scan Lidars have the inclusion of Wind Turbine OEMs, Engineering ability to continually measure Lidar to rotor Consultants and Lidar OEMs in any such misalignment, thereby removing that project can ensure the optimal outcome. potential source of error. www.zxlidars.com Wake detection and complex flow Wakes from neighbouring turbines, or complex flow caused by terrain may impact turbine performance and are challenging to identify. While some Lidars measurements can be adversely affected by the presence of wakes, e.g. identifying the phenomena as being yaw misalignment, a circular scanning Lidar provides a complex flow parameter to identify such conditions. Figure 7: Example of Nacelle Based Lidar on turbine NKE04 detecting complex flow from turbine wakes and Some common questions on the use of terrain (trees) nacelle based lidars How do you ensure the alignment between the Lidar and the nacelle? What is total uncertainty of the Lidar measurement? What is the accuracy of data? Is a Ground Based Lidar more accurate as compared to Nacelle Based Lidar? Is there something like maintenance needed for the Lidar during the measurement campaign? or just mounting and dismantling? (and analysing the data of course). Can you perform non-contractual power curve tests with nacelle-Lidar in complex terrain? These questions, and more, are answered alongside a 1hr webinar on the topic available here: https://www.zxLidars.com/ul-and- zx-Lidars-place-industry-focus-on- wind-farm-performance-validation/ 40 PES WIND



TALKING POINT Pulling much more than its own weight Words: Jürgen Fuhrländer, Managing Director GFW-Gesellschaft für Windenergieanlagen GmbH & Co. KG Newly developed ground-based winch system shortens the amount of time needed to replace large components When a large component of a wind turbine fails, the operator often has no other choice but to have the damaged component replaced. This often involves a considerable amount of organisational work and financial expense – not just for the spare part itself but also for the logistics and infrastructure required to carry out the replacement. 42 PES WIND

TALKING POINT The loss of income due to system downtime Depending on the type of large component Drastic cost savings proven in practice also has a significant impact. The service that needs to be replaced, clamping devices, provider GFW, a subsidiary of Deutsche guides/pulleys or transport devices are then Jürgen Fuhrländer, Managing Director of Windtechnik, has developed a new ground- installed. When the work was carried out the GFW, sees the benefits confirmed by these based winch system (GBWS for short) for first time, two clamping beams were fixed to first practical applications: ‘The projects replacing large components that can save the rotor blade and the blade bearing show that the final cost savings can be in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros. attachment was detached from the rotor. five to six-digit range.’ This sounds like an The rotor blade was then lowered and safely attractive alternative for the operator. So, Using the laws of nature for specific placed on a blade support located outside of what is the main difference between this purposes the danger area. The procedure has a system and conventional methods for (dis) decisive advantage: assembling large components? The budget The GBWS’s intelligent system of pulling and for this type of work can be broken down into weight mechanisms makes the use of large The system is installed freely on the ground four main cost blocks: machines and cranes and the modification of local without any other connection to the wind equipment, infrastructure, personnel, and infrastructure that goes along with it turbine, so the rotor blades can be detached lost earnings. unnecessary. The heart of the GBWS from the rotor hub at a precise angle of consists of load winches, support winches, attack. Since the winches are not changed or Cost block: machines and equipment support frames, counterweights and a moved while the blade bearing is being control system. After the support frame has replaced, the load application points and the The need for a large crane is a particularly been securely set up on a suitable surface, mounting angle remain the same and expensive factor in the conventional the load ropes are pulled to the hub of the reassembly can take place immediately. method. The cranes usually used for service wind turbine. work on wind turbines with hub heights of up WWW.PESWIND.COM 43

TALKING POINT to 150 meters and blade lengths of up to 60 and taking out of operation, already costs transport to and from the site, costs for meters are in the 1,000 to 1,500-tonne somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 putting the crane into and taking it out of range. Route planning and transport euros. In addition, workdays on site cost operation and operating costs that add up to permission, which include heavy transport, approximately 8,000 to 12,000 euros. more than 100,000 euros. In addition, lost frames, qualified personnel, putting into workdays for large cranes (for example due to This means the operator can avoid costs for strong winds) are much more expensive than corresponding lost workdays for the GBWS and the specialist personnel needed to operate it. Cost block: infrastructure Using a conventional large crane goes hand in hand with creating the necessary local infrastructure. The space-saving structure of the GBWS only requires a level patch of ground approximately 8x8 meters somewhere close to the wind turbine. The pre-assembled GBWS is transported using an EU-standardised articulated lorry. The expansion of access roads and the blocking of parts of roads for heavy transport that are often associated with the use of large cranes are no longer required. The same goes for the necessary agreements and possible compensation for residents in the vicinity of the wind farm. The amount saved strongly depends on the project, so the actual numbers can vary. 44 PES WIND

TALKING POINT Cost block: personnel costs Personnel costs are an often neglected item in budget calculations. Some of the main items in this cost block include personnel hours for locating a suitable large crane and the time-consuming paperwork that needs to be completed. The fact that large cranes are not always available also incurs personnel costs. The amount depends on the individual project and the individual hourly wages. Since the GBWS was developed in-house, it is always available and can be mobilised immediately. Using it requires only a few documentation processes, and no special permits are needed. The number of employees involved drops significantly. Cost block: lost earnings Every day of downtime for the wind turbine The GBWS support frame can be used immediately thanks to pre-assembly means high loss of earnings for the operator. The rapid availability of the GBWS is an unbeatable advantage, especially when damage has already occurred. The GBWS The rotor blade is lowered safely using clamping beams and winches WWW.PESWIND.COM 45

TALKING POINT The rotor blade is safely placed on the blade support using the GBWS Ground-based winch system successful in practical application can also be used in critical wind conditions dynamic conditions as well as complete of up to 12 m/s, which means that trust in the actions of the colleagues The pros and cons of an innovative pull downtimes can even be reduced involved. This means that activities such as rope system considerably at higher wind speeds. Every operating the GBWS and determining day of downtime means lost production where to place the attachment and pull Stillger & Stahl Vermögensverwaltung earnings for the operator of approximately points are exclusively the domain of the GbR has been advising investors on the 5,000 euros. Time really is money! team of specialists who have been trained topic of renewable energy for over 20 specifically for this purpose. years. When trying to find cost- Comparative calculations confirm savings effective alternative methods for Not one single step in the process is left to replacing blade bearings on several The comparative calculation of the first chance: they verify the technical details of Kenersys K110 turbines, the company projects carried out using the GBWS during the corresponding component and correct made the decision to use the ground- the first half of 2020 is interesting. Jürgen them if necessary. Since the load application based winch system (GBWS). The Fuhrländer said: ‘Potential customers are of points stay the same, the component can be system, which was developed by GFW, course initially sceptical as to whether the brought back up to the hub of the wind would now be tested in a practical savings are really that significant. We also turbine without the risk of material damage. setting for the first time. A greater risk wanted to know whether we did the or a calculated move? Björn Lahnstein, calculation correctly. For this reason, we set Further development for other components Project Manager at Stillger & Stahl, up a comparative budget that assumes repairs talked to PES about his experiences. would be carried out using a conventional The GBWS is not limited to replacing blade large crane. It enables us to show quite clearly bearings. Generators have also recently been PES: Why did you decide to use the which amounts were saved in which areas.’ successfully replaced using the same innovative GBWS to replace the blade principle. The system can be adapted for use bearings for the first time? Safety is not sacrificed to save money with any component by making targeted modifications to it. GFW / Deutsche Björn Lahnstein: First and foremost, it Despite all the financial advantages, the Windtechnik are currently in the process of was the openness and transparency of safety of the personnel and the wind patenting the ground-based winch system. the whole GFW team. Thanks to that, turbine components is a top priority for we understood from the beginning that Jürgen Fuhrländer. Using the GBWS www.deutsche-windtechnik.com more practical experience would be requires in-depth knowledge of static and needed. That was also evident in their Image credits Deutsche Windtechnik AG attractive, detailed offer, which turned out to be almost identical to the final bill. In addition, the work was not outsourced. Instead, all tasks were carried out by the team of specialists themselves. That was important to us! PES: We were wondering if you ran into any unforeseen events? BL: During implementation, we realised that the technical data for the rotor blades was quite different from reality in some cases. Essential static calculations had to be corrected in these cases by the team on site. In addition, we also found that the schedule set for implementation proved to be overly ambitious. Both these factors caused a slight delay in the whole blade bearing replacement process. Ultimately, however, everyone involved worked intensively together to get the project completed quickly. Overall, we are very satisfied with how the project went. PES: What would you say contributed to the positive outcome? BL: We were able to get by without using a large crane. In addition to avoiding the crane-specific costs, this meant we were also able to avoid the cost of expanding local infrastructure, coordinating with residents and obtaining bureaucratic authorisations. This allowed many work steps to be skipped, so we were able to begin earlier. This is also ultimately reflected in the project costing, which was significantly higher without the GBWS. 46 PES WIND

Blade analysis made simple. Scopito.com/wind Enabling the future of visual inspections.

CORPORATE FOCUS 3 years of growth in offshore energy 48 PES WIND

CORPORATE FOCUS As the world begins to open up again after the devastation of COVID-19, Cargostore Worldwide talks to PES Wind about how they have managed to stay profitable during the pandemic. We explore the company’s timeline of growth over the last three years which has led to their current position in the offshore container industry. 2017 - Cargostore Containers LLC Cargostore Containers LLC was awarded and a pipelaying project in the Baltic Sea. established in U.A.E their ADNOC ICV certificate in 2019, demonstrating their support of local To support the Johan Sverdrup project in In late 2017, Cargostore Worldwide business. Sohail Ashraf continues to the Norwegian North Sea, Cargostore formalized their expansion into the U.A.E by spearhead the organization now as Country deployed 70 new 20ft Reefer containers to opening Cargostore Containers LLC, based Director, U.A.E. their rental fleet, simultaneously becoming in Abu Dhabi, appointing Sohail Ashraf as the world’s largest operator of DNV General Manager. The move cemented their 2018 - Cargostore becomes world’s largest refrigerated units globally. position in the market as a leading supplier of supplier of offshore DNV reefers with DNV 2.7-1 certified containers to offshore oil increased presence in Northern Europe For the pipelaying project, Cargostore’s client and gas projects in the region. had requested a variety of containers ranging In February 2018 Cargostore increased their from 20ft Reefers, 3m³ Waste Skips and With oil and gas production on the rise, the presence in Northern Europe by opening a Closed Top CCU’s delivered to Sassnitz, Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation (ADNOC) quay-side rapid response depot in Germany within a two-week time frame. As had made known their intention to enforce Eemshaven, and appointing Dennis the closest 20ft Reefer units were situated in the DNV 2.7-1 standard for offshore cargo Schouwenaar as Offshore Sales Manager, the Middle East due to involvement in another carrying units, and to phase out the less safe Northern Europe. With a growing client base large scale project, Cargostore offered 10ft ‘hybrid units’ which were common in the already in the region, having the dedicated Reefers which were situated closer at a region. As Cargostore’s entire offshore fleet rapid response depot with Mr. Schouwenaar reduced rate whilst the 20ft Reefers were were already DNV 2.7-1 certified, they were operating locally meant that Cargostore transported. This saved the client additional ahead of the curve, which led to them could provide a seamless customer service, costs for mooring and more importantly supporting large projects in the region. specializing in providing containers to clients ensured that the project was not delayed. on an ad-hoc fast turnaround basis. ‘I was thrilled to join the Cargostore team in ‘I was delighted to join Cargostore Worldwide 2017 at the forefront of Cargostore The expansion established Cargostore as a in 2018 as the Sales Manager for Northern Containers LLC. It was an honour and a leading supplier of offshore containers in Europe. It was exciting to join a company that privilege to be part of such a reliable and Northern Europe, operating from a wide was intent on growth and development, with innovative organization who wanted to distribution of depot locations including their offshore division having recently positively impact the local market by Rotterdam, Den Helder, Ijmuiden, Cuxhaven, expanded into the UAE. I believe our high level promoting the safer DNV 2.7-1 standard. Emden and Sassnitz. of customer service in Europe and providing a After three years we have continued to do fast service from several strategic ports has this, and we are proud to be a leading supplier Having units positioned in several strategic led us to be a strong competitor in the region,’ of DNV 2.7-1 products in the region,’ says ports allowed Cargostore to support projects explains Dennis Schouwenaar, Sohail Ashraf. such as the Johan Sverdrup Oil Field project 2019 - Cargostore expands into new regions 2019 was a year of further expansion for Cargostore, establishing relationships with local partners within target Regions. Keen to support increase in demand for DNV certified units and to provide long term solutions through innovative products, Cargostore mobilized units into the Gulf of Mexico to support the rise in oil production; making a full range of DNV containers available in Houston, TX through partner ProBox. Cargostore looked for opportunities where innovative products were needed. Seeing a need in the market for dual voltage reefers to support pipelaying projects in the KSA, Cargostore launched the world’s first Dual Voltage, Twin Room Reefer to the Region. The Reefers (Refrigerated Containers) enable chemicals to be stored at a defined temperature. Cargostore Reefers have a wide temperature range, from +30 degrees through to minus 25 degrees, which is vital for moving and storing temperature sensitive chemicals. WWW.PESWIND.COM 49

CORPORATE FOCUS Similarly, Cargostore aimed to support 2020 - Cargostore expands into Taiwan demand for DNV 2.7-1 units, with several smaller, developing offshore energy markets supporting the offshore wind industry units already going out on hire. To match the such as the Mediterranean. Cargostore demand, more container types as well as teamed up with Multimarine Services in In June 2020 Cargostore Worldwide higher quantities have been deployed from Cyprus to deliver a range of DNV certified announced their expansion into Taiwan in the depot. offshore containers, supporting all offshore partnership with Rhenus Offshore Logistics projects in the region. and local agent Maxlines New Energy & Says Jacob Poot, Cargostore Worldwide, Project Logistics Inc., in support of the Vice President Offshore, ‘It’s great to see the 2020 - Cargostore secures secondary Taiwanese offshore wind industry. high interest and demand through the busy management buyout attendance at the open day, as well as the With a projected 5.7GW of installed offshore bookings of several of our DNV 2.7-1 units On Thursday February 6, 2020 Cargostore’s wind capacity planned by 2025, the industry from the depot. We look forward to providing management team announced a revolving in Taiwan is growing rapidly, and to support more types of containers to offshore wind credit facility through a Secondary this Cargostore opened a DNV Offshore CCU projects within the coming months.’ Management Buyout (MBO) with private depot in the port of Taichung. equity firm, Connection Capital. Contact Jacob Poot for all offshore The port of Taichung, situated on the west container requirements in Taiwan at The investment, coupled with new debt coast of Taiwan, is strategically placed to [email protected]. finance facilities provided by DunPort Capital service the construction, operation, and Management, provided Cargostore with maintenance of the planned wind farms, with Post COVID-19 in 2020 and beyond significant capital to fund their next phase of the majority located off the west coast. growth; providing enhanced financial Situating the depot at this location will Cargostore Worldwide’s ethos has been to flexibility and the ability to invest in new reduce the delivery time and environmental offer best-in-class customer service and equipment to meet demand for large scale impact when transporting equipment from developing long term growth-based projects globally. the port to the offshore platforms. relationships with clients, whilst maintaining their momentum of development; continuing Justin Farrington-Smith, CEO of Cargostore On 1st July, Cargostore, Rhenus and expansion into new markets and providing said, ‘Connection Capital’s investment will be Maxlines officially launched their innovative, problem solving products. instrumental in enabling us to consolidate partnership by hosting an open day at the our competitive advantage and leverage depot, inviting delegates from the The outlook is bright for this rapidly favourable market dynamics to deliver our Taiwanese offshore wind industry and growing organisation that continues to future growth plans. With a healthy pipeline highlighting how the three companies can succeed, despite the unprecedented of new business opportunities for 2020, support the large growth expected for the situation that COVID has brought to the building on a core base of long-standing industry over the coming years. global economy in 2020. customer relationships, it’s a great position to be in as we enter this new decade.’ Since the expansion, there has been a high www.cargostore.com 50 PES WIND