NEM Solutions nCentric Navigant Research Conference Call A closer look at the use of How wireless technology is We are delighted to hear the Our preview of the greatly digital technologies bringing the industry together views of Jesse Broehl anticipated Global Offshore Wind 2019 WIND Once more, we turn our attention to the eagerly awaited Global Offshore Wind 2019 exhibition - taking place in London, UK during 25-26th June. A must attend event this year as always, we are delighted to bring you our preview and insight. PLUS our usual offering of exclusive articles and executive interview pieces bringing you the latest opinion, technology advances and product innovation from both the established and upcoming companies in the global wind energy market POWER AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 2, 2019 OFFSHORE WIND GOES BIG As the global offshore wind market continues to grow, so too, of course, do the projects themselves and indeed the components involved. This growth will bring with it both exciting challenges and opportunities alike...
EDITOR’S NOTE NEM Solutions nCentric Navigant Research Conference Call A closer look at the use of How wireless technology is We are delighted to hear the Our preview of the greatly digital technologies bringing the industry together views of Jesse Broehl anticipated Global Offshore Wind 2019 WIND Once more, we turn our attention to the eagerly awaited Global Offshore Wind 2019 exhibition - taking place in London, UK during 25-26th June. A must attend event this year as always, we are delighted to bring you our preview and insight. PLUS our usual offering of exclusive articles and executive interview pieces bringing you the latest opinion, technology advances and product innovation from both the established and upcoming companies in the global wind energy market POWER AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 2, 2019 Editor’s note OFFSHORE WIND GOES BIG A very warm welcome to our summer edition of PES Wind. Although with the extreme weather we have been having of late, it certainly doesn’t seem like June. As the global offshore wind market continues to grow, so too, of course, do the projects themselves and indeed the components involved. This Climate change and global warming are very much worldwide concerns and our industry growth will bring with it both exciting challenges and opportunities alike... is a leading participant in the attempt combat these issues and to save the planet. POWER & ENERGY It’s time for Global Offshore Wind 2019, one of the year’s biggest dedicated offshore SOLUTIONS wind conference and exhibitions, which is taking place from 25th to 26th June London’s ExCeL. After an apparent lull of sorts, offshore wind is now in full expansion mode so Directors don’t miss out, tickets are still available. Maybe we will see you there? Stuart Gillies Mark Smith Challenges are being overcome at a rate of knots, bringing more and more opportunities Stefann Perrigot for growth and expansion. Technology and innovation continue to evolve as a result of this growth and we are seeing bigger and bigger components and projects as well as the Client Liaison Manager vessels required to handle these demands. Digitalization continues to play its part, as do Vikki Birch data collection and analysis solutions, which are revolutionising maintenance planning and contributing to saving costs. Editor Elaine Perrigot Another interesting topic will be the testing, certification and validation of everything [email protected] involved in this market, which is growing and developing year on year – for sure, an area to keep an eye on. Associate Editors Stephen Pearson This issue is jam packed with the thoughts and insight from a number of industry Zachary George innovators and a selection of those driving the offshore wind sector forward. As always, we put some probing questions to a number of executives and, of course, you will also find our Design regular comments, analysis and views on matters and topics from around the world. Andrew Jenkins [email protected] This is shaping up to be an exciting year for our industry, we eagerly look forward to the next chapter. Production Paul Lawson Grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy! [email protected] Sales Enquiries [email protected] General Enquiries [email protected] Media Partnership Enquiries [email protected] Advertising Opportunities [email protected] PES is published by P&G Media Ltd Elaine Perrigot Editor P&G Media Ltd PO Box 310, Bristol, BS10 5WT, United Kingdom This publication is copyright © 2017 P&G Media Ltd and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the prior permission of P&G Media Ltd. While every care has been taken during the preparation of this publication, P&G Media cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information published herein or any consequence arising from it. From sustainably managed forests. For more information visit: www.pefc.org www.peswind.com WWW.PESWIND.COM 3
CONTENTS NEM Solutions look at the use of digital technologies nCentric explain how Jesse Broehl, Senior Research 86 such as cloud computing, big data management and 63 wireless technology brings 72 Analyst at Navigant Research predictive analytics, which are changing the status quo the industry together talks about the next decade of the of the energy market. An increasing number of wind farm global offshore wind market and operators are starting to implement these techniques, the reliance on key global markets so as to control their costs. But, if the implementation of predictive maintenance is one of your digital business transformation goals, how will you make sure it works? NEM Solutions nCentric Navigant Research Conference Call 14 Global Offshore Wind 2019 is coming up this month and PES A closer look at the use of How wireless technology is We are delighted to hear the Our preview of the greatly are very happy to bring you an overview of what you can expect digital technologies bringing the industry together views of Jesse Broehl anticipated Global Offshore Wind 2019 WIND to experience at this great event. The UK is the most exciting Once more, we turn our attention to the eagerly awaited Global Offshore Wind 2019 exhibition - taking place in offshore wind market in the world in 2019, with up to 6GW of London, UK during 25-26th June. A must attend event this year as always, we are delighted to bring you our preview new capacity coming forward at record low prices. The debate and insight. PLUS our usual offering of exclusive articles and executive about the economic value and energy opportunity of offshore interview pieces bringing you the latest opinion, technology advances and product innovation from both the established and upcoming companies in the global wind energy market POWER AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 2, 2019 wind is over. The UK is the home of offshore wind, and this technology will be the catalyst of our energy transition OFFSHORE WIND 19 Steffen Czichon, Florian Sayer, Moritz Bätge of GOES BIG IWES explain to PES how the continuing increase As the global offshore wind market continues to grow, so too, of course, in rotor diameters is pushing the structural load- do the projects themselves and indeed the components involved. This growth will bring with it both exciting challenges and opportunities alike... carrying capabilities of turbine blades to the limit. In order to ensure reliability and structural integrity, representative testing and validation methods are now more important than ever before Comment 106 Jennifer Holgate, Managing Associate, 46 The Port of Grenaa has grown from a 6 A lan Gooding, director and co-founder and Holly Wood-Pinkham, Paralegal small fishing port to an international at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, hub, with the capacity and know-how of Smarter Grid Solutions, explains that talk planning policy and case law to serve the offshore wind market. the secret to harnessing offshore wind developments for the renewables sector The pre-assembly facilities, the ease lies back on dry land of access and experience, makes it the Ask the experts ideal port to access Denmark, Sweden 8 Ben Backwell, CEO, GWEC, tells PES It’s and Northern Europe. Theis Gisselbæk, 24 Ben Webster, Sales & Tendering Manager the CCO came along to PES to give us time to show the potential of offshore an insight into its growth wind to the world at Osbit, dropped into PES to tell us about their engineering challenges and 52 Offshore wind farms are growing both 10 Offshore wind will be one of the main solutions, which are driven by efficiency and tailored to the requirements of the in size and number. The engineers pillars of India’s energy transition, customers in the offshore wind sector, and technicians can be at sea for as was proven in June 2018 when in particular, but not exclusively. Health long periods of time and their living the Ministry of New and Renewable and safety awareness is a top priority conditions and comfort are top priority. Energy (MNRE) set national targets for throughout every project Crew conditions contribute to the offshore wind power of 5GW by 2022 smooth execution and completion of and 30GW by 2030 32 ELA Container Offshore GmbH is projects. So, it was a pleasure for PES to catch up with Craig Marjoribanks, Sales 12 According to the World Economic going from strength to strength. Their & Marketing Manager, at HB Rentals Ltd, mobile room solutions are versatile and to get an update on their solutions Forum, the Internet of Things (IoT) easy to assemble and fix in situ. There which focuses on the extension of are options to rent or buy. Managing internet connectivity to everyday Director, Hans Gatzemeier, gives us physical devices will be the driver of the more detail… fourth industrial revolution 4 PES WIND
CONTENTS 46 91 58 PES caught up with Nils Ingvarson, the 102 The drivetrain of a wind turbine 80 What once seemed like a pipedream CCO at MMT. He was happy to tell us generator is an expensive but has become reality. Offshore wind about increased revenue, new clients important component of the energy projects worldwide have increased in and improved efficiency leading to generating system. Daryl Hickey, senior number and are now becoming more cost savings. The company has a lot of inspections and reliability engineer with of the norm. What has not gone away experience in the oil and gas industry Natural Power tells us why… is the citizen opposition to wind farms, and intends to bring photogrammetry to which now has spread to offshore the offshore wind sector Corporate focus projects worldwide. Al Maiorino, 90 As the sizes of wind turbines grow, president of the Public Strategy 68 Morten Huseby, CEO at Wirescan, Group, Inc., gives us some strategies towers need to be built bigger and to get everyone on board shares his enthusiasm for their new made out of heavier structures. This digital service with PES. The company means increasing heights, diameters 94 A ndrew Wickham, Managing Director is set to launch its Wirescan Digital and plate thicknesses, which naturally platform and Wirescan GO!. These brings more challenges and a headache at Buoyant works, has been involved in are exciting times and the beginning for the production line. Read the view impact protection design, engineering of a new era for this dynamic, forward of Pemamek and manufacture for the past 25 years. thinking company Developing and creating brands such as Talking point Hippo Marine and Manuplas, both long Think tank 28 If you are a service provider within standing manufacturers of fendering, booms, buoys and other impact 36 Offshore wind structures are exposed the wind industry, you do definitely absorbing structures, has pioneered a have a lot of equipment that needs new design. to an extremely corrosive environment. to be inspected regularly. This could As a result, corrosion rates of steel be PPE equipment, hand tools, 98 A quick and easy AC solution, or a highly are high, >0.5 mm/year, and coating measuring instruments, hydraulic tools, systems must perform extremely well. torque wrenches, lifting gear, rescue sophisticated connection using DC Jo van Montfort from Bjond, gives PES equipment and much more. Learn more, technology? The best transmission his professional viewpoint on some of courtesy of READUNIT. solution for offshore wind parks the pitfalls of the current certification depends on both distance and output. processes and outcomes 76 For those working in the wind sector, But cost is key: for both technologies, Siemens is putting all its development 42 A ndries Hofman, Project Manager the risks of arc flash incidents have efforts into downsizing and always been better understood than standardization, in order to minimize Offshore Wind at GustoMSC tells us in many other industries. Mark Lant, installation and operational costs why the offshore wind installation technical director at arc flash specialists industry is faced with the challenge of ProGARM tells us more… investing in next generation installation equipment, for the installation of wind turbines that are still on the drawing board. This brings a lot of uncertainties WWW.PESWIND.COM 5
COMMENT: TECHNOLOGY Why flexibility from onshore distributed energy resources is key to the success of offshore wind Alan Gooding, director and co-founder of Smarter Grid Solutions, explains that the secret to harnessing offshore wind lies back on dry land. Alan Gooding As anyone who’s ever stood on a beach can Like all renewables, offshore wind’s testify, the wind doesn’t blow at a constant installation cost is high, but the production The growth of offshore wind power is speed all day long – sometimes it comes in cost is virtually zero because the fuel is ‘free’. nothing short of astounding. The UK’s strong gusts and sometimes it drops That makes offshore wind a very cheap form capacity already sits at 8GW, with 2GW completely, leaving a perfectly still day. That of energy when it’s available and the owners added during 2018 alone, and energy minister intermittency sits at the heart of the and operators of these giant resources must Claire Perry wants that total to rise to 30GW challenge of integrating offshore wind. export electricity to the grid whenever by 2030, enough to provide a third of the possible to repay the investment in the electricity Great Britain needs. Wind farms can be spread out along the coast construction of the assets. to help smooth out some of the variability in Engineers are already rising to the challenge the wind; after all, if it’s a calm day down in That has a knock-on effect back on dry land of installing scores of turbines around the Cornwall then the wind may still be blowing – as more offshore wind farms are connected coast. Yet harnessing the full power of the up in the Highlands of Scotland. That to the grid it makes the business case for the wind out at sea will also require changes in geographical smoothing can only go so far power stations that provide backup for calm the way the electricity system is managed though – the variation in the output from days, gas-fired power stations, less viable. back on dry land. wind farms out at sea can’t be balanced with The UK still needs some form of power to consumer demand for electricity without provide back-up capacity for the grid when help from somewhere. the wind isn’t blowing offshore, and so policymakers are faced with a conundrum. These powerful wind farms have a capacity measured in gigawatts and so the They still want the benefits that renewables fluctuations in their output are equivalent to bring to tackling climate change by reducing that of a nuclear power station being brought carbon dioxide emissions from fossil online and offline. An equally-pressing fuel-burning power stations, yet they still problem is what happens on days when the need back-up power to keep the lights on. The wind simply doesn’t blow, causing headaches UK Government’s Capacity Market was for those trying to balance supply and designed to ensure enough conventional demand across the wider grid. generation remained economically viable to 6 PES WIND
COMMENT: TECHNOLOGY ‘Whatever the review’s outcome, increasing the flexibility of the network will be one of the key tools for tackling the intermittency of renewables. Flexibility can take several forms to control supply and demand, either by increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity being fed into the grid or altering the way customers use their power.’ fill that gap, but the scheme is under review become a virtual power plant (VPP), allowing More onshore DERs providing flexibility in after being challenged in the European courts. the market and system operator to interact this way allows offshore wind generation to commercially with a single larger entity, while be made ‘firmer’ in the market, driving down Whatever the review’s outcome, increasing the VPP dials up or down supply or demand imbalance costs and allowing fossil-fuel the flexibility of the network will be one of the from its constituent DERs. generation to be displaced on an equal key tools for tackling the intermittency of footing. It also drives down the cost of renewables. Flexibility can take several forms Some of the issues encountered offshore are integrating offshore wind, making more to control supply and demand, either by replicated onshore with photovoltaics and developments viable. increasing or decreasing the amount of onshore wind; but are exacerbated with electricity being fed into the grid or altering additional restrictions in the capability of The UK is leading the way globally in the way customers use their power. localised ‘distribution’ networks. Delivering establishing flexibility markets and achieving flexibility from these DER needs to be whole-system benefits. The interaction Traditionally, flexibility came through assets coordinated with local network needs as well between markets and national electricity such as gas peaking plant, but now energy as helping to balance the grid through its needs, and DER with local network needs, storage and demand-side response – where peaks and troughs. requires careful coordination and control. energy-intensive industries, factories or other big customers can agree to lower their The industry has been tackling these Just like modern fighter jets use ‘fly-by- demand at key times – are also playing an problems through the ‘whole system’ wire’ systems to automatically make little increasingly-important role. Soon this will concept, which examines the interaction adjustments in very short timescales to expand to domestic customers, as the cost between generation, capacity, balancing and keep planes stable, so the electricity grid of batteries and hence electric vehicles also network costs to find the most economic will use DERMS to adjust DER to the falls. These distributed energy resources overall solution. One of the key tools at its variations and fluctuations at a local and a (DERs) are democratising the market, giving disposal to optimise the system and deliver a national level in order to provide a flexible, users the chance to generate revenues flexible energy system is the distributed stable, reliable and low-cost energy system. through their ability to flex the amount of energy resource management systems That’s why offshore wind needs DERs to power they supply or consume. (DERMs), a form of advanced software that decarbonise the energy sector. can be used to control DERs and help balance When aggregated together, these DERs supply and demand. www.smartergridsolutions.com WWW.PESWIND.COM 7
COMMENT: OFFSHORE It’s time to show the potential of offshore wind to the world Words: Ben Backwell, CEO at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) As the world looks for competitive, zero carbon energy sources that can be deployed at scale and in relatively fast time frames, offshore wind is in greater demand than ever before on the world stage. The market will become truly global over the next five years. Ben Backwell Henrik Stiesdal, the Task Force convenes the World Bank and 18 partners to help low some of our industry’s greatest minds on and middle-income countries reduce poverty Capacity will grow, especially in Asia and the offshore technology, consisting of leading and boost growth, through environmentally first largescale offshore installations are developers, investors and manufacturers in sustainable energy solutions. expected in North America towards 2022 or the sector, as well as technical experts and 2023. So, whilst currently, eight per cent of inter-governmental organisations. Although offshore wind has made significant the new installations are offshore, we expect strides in markets such as Europe and China, this share to jump to 22 per cent by 2023. Since its inception in October, the Task Force its true potential reaches far beyond these has already been an important hub for the established areas and our partnership with To achieve or even exceed this growth industry’s efforts to promote the growth of the World Bank ensures the benefits of ambition, we are focusing a large part of our offshore wind. In late 2018 and early this year, offshore wind can be realised in all corners of activities on promising markets and we were a leading force in ensuring the the world where the wind potential exists. providing guidance on wind potential, significant and promising market of Taiwan technical development and regulatory was able to stay the course and find the right I often visit such countries as part of our structures through the Global Offshore Wind compromise between regulators and effort to be the leading voice for the wind Task Force. Chaired by Alastair Dutton and industry to ensure the long-term success of industry globally. In doing so, the supported by offshore wind energy pioneer that market. experiences and achievements of the wind industry in the UK serve as both invaluable In March, we announced a landmark learnings and unmatched inspiration. The partnership with the World Bank Group’s journey from Blyth to the Sector Deal Energy Sector Management Assistance announced earlier this year, the innovative Program (ESMAP) and the International approach to finance and development of Finance Corporation on efforts to accelerate supply chain structures all represent a the uptake of offshore wind in emerging valuable legacy for the industry to uphold as markets. ESMAP is a partnership between we look to replicate this success elsewhere. 8 PES WIND
COMMENT: OFFSHORE ‘GWEC and the Global Offshore Wind Task Force, along with partners from industry and inter-governmental organisations, will take the lead on ensuring the ambition and potential we witness in just a few weeks’ time, is converted into action over the years to come.’ That’s why I am incredibly proud that this offshore capacity than any other country About Ben Backwell month, in partnership with the World Bank, with 1.8 GW, including the UK which took we will be hosting a delegation that second place with 1.3 GW. This welcomed Ben Backwell is CEO of the Global Wind Energy includes representatives from 15 countries trend shows the expansion and growth of Council, the voice of the global wind industry. here in the UK during the week of Global offshore wind beyond the UK where it has Ben is a leading commentator and strategist in Offshore Wind 2019. The arrival of the achieved so much and into the markets the renewable energy sector. He worked as a delegation in the UK is a testament to the where we have so much more to do. GWEC journalist and analyst for 20 years, covering success story of offshore wind in this and the Global Offshore Wind Task Force, energy policy, markets and large energy market and a passing of the baton so that along with partners from industry and companies in Europe, the US, Venezuela, these achievements can be replicated inter-governmental organisations, will take Brazil, Argentina and other countries. Ben will elsewhere. the lead on ensuring the ambition and be speaking at the Global Market Updates potential we witness in just a few weeks’ session of Global Offshore Wind in London on 2018 marked a pivotal year where China, for time, is converted into action over the years Tuesday 25th June at 11:15am-12:15pm. the first time, installed and connected more to come. www.gwec.net WWW.PESWIND.COM 9
COMMENT: OFFSHORE Offshore wind India: before you look up at the turbines, look down at the ground risks Words: Alice Ridgway, Principal Consultant Alice Ridgway Offshore wind will be one of the main pillars of India’s energy transition, as was proven in June Offshore Wind Consultants (OWC) and Tata 2018 when the Ministry of New and Renewable Consulting Engineers have been developing a Energy (MNRE) set national targets for offshore paper on India’s offshore wind outlook wind power of 5GW by 2022 and 30GW by 2030. reviewing the policies and risks and The first 1GW tender, expected to be launched off presenting the key risks offshore wind Gujarat later this year, has attracted some of the developers and OEMs will face navigating the biggest international offshore wind players Indian offshore wind market. Among those together with many Indian renewables’ risks, the study of soil conditions is a major developers. The spectacular cost reductions driver for foundation and wind turbine achieved by the offshore wind industry in Europe generator designs and, hence, project have attracted the attention of many countries, including India, interested in exploring offshore wind as a viable source of energy generation. economics. This article aims to summarise Previous desk studies of Gujarat and Tamil and shed more light on the soil conditions Nadu1 indicate that the ground conditions at developers will find in the most advanced these two sites will present different Indian offshore wind regions: Gujarat and challenges. Still, the actual soil conditions at Tamil Nadu. any selected site will require comprehensive 10 PES WIND
COMMENT: OFFSHORE ‘Given the cementation described it is likely that the soils have a high carbonate content which, as discussed above, makes the behaviour less predictable than for silica sands.’ site investigations and surveys. The The Gujarat zone sits within a seismically with high current flow, could represent a high successful planning and timing of these active area as it is located close to two plate risk of scour during the lifetime of the project. investigations with regards weather boundaries, therefore all developments in conditions (for example cyclones) and project this area will need to be designed to As discussed at the Gujarat site, the warm timelines will require early consideration to withstand seismic activity with attention nutrient rich seas in this area are also likely to ensure successful campaigns. being paid to the risk of liquefaction of the contribute to high marine growth during the underlying sand strata, particularly when this lifetime of the windfarm and consideration In terms of Gujarat the soil conditions are occurs at relatively shallow depth (i.e. for should be given to the risk of described as comprising a surficial layer of areas of the site where the overlying soft clay microbiologically induced corrosion. soft normally consolidated clay, which varies layer is thinner). in thickness across the site from between 7 m When developers start evaluating the and 50 m. The soft clay deposits overlie sand The warm nutrient rich seas in this area are feasibility of Indian projects, as projects in which is considered to be medium dense to also likely to contribute to high marine any market, one of the greatest uncertainties dense and is interlayered with clay in some growth during the lifetime of the windfarm in estimating CAPEX, and thus the viability of areas. The soft clay layer will provide lower and consideration should be given to the risk the proposed project will be the ground lateral support of foundations which are likely of microbiologically induced corrosion. conditions. OWC’s experience, derived from to be required to be installed to a greater managing 20 GW of ground risk assignments depth as a consequence. The soil conditions For Tamil Nadu less information is available, since 2011, tells us to recommend that are significantly less competent that what with no commercially available offshore developers create and maintain a project- would be expected in the North Sea, although borehole data at this stage. The FOWIND specific, geological and geotechnical risk as noted in FOWIND, similar conditions have desk study describes soil conditions at the register, as soon as practical after the project been observed in Mainland China where Tamil Nadu site as comprising sand and commences. This will contain all identified offshore wind projects have been successfully cemented sand with occasional stiff clay and potential geological or geotechnical deployed. This softer surficial clay layer will seams. If the upper bound cemented soil hazards and provide a structure for managing also lead to deeper penetration of jack-up legs conditions are encountered this would the hazards as the project progresses. during installation and consideration will need provide good lateral and vertical support to to be given to leg extraction. foundations but may present challenges to www.owcltd.com pile driving. If looser sand in lower bound soil Furthermore, coral is noted in the region and conditions were encountered poorer lateral 1 F acilitating Offshore Wind in India so, it is likely that some of the strata may and vertical support would be encountered. (FOWIND). Partners: lobal Wind Energy have high carbonate content. Carbonate Council (GWEC), Centre for Study of sands can have less predictable behaviour Given the cementation described it is likely Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), than silica sands (that the majority of design that the soils have a high carbonate content DNV GL, the Gujarat Power Corporation codes are based on) and so this will need to which, as discussed above, makes the Limited (GPCL), World Institute of be taken into account in the foundation behaviour less predictable than for silica sands. Sustainable Energy (WISE), National design and jack-up installation assessments. Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) http:// The looser deposits if encountered, together fowind.in/ WWW.PESWIND.COM 11
COMMENT: CONNECTIVITY Renewable energy and the Internet of Things Words: S asaenia Paul Oluwabunmi MIET PMP, Operations Officer at OFID and Gabriel Hurtado González MEng CEng MIET, Energy Solutions Manager at Mitie. According to the World Economic Forum, the Internet of Things (IoT) which focuses on the extension of internet connectivity to everyday physical devices will be the driver of the fourth industrial revolution1. Sasaenia Paul Oluwabunmi The Internet of Things represents a new Examples of these applications include the reality, the data collected from internet Tesla Power wall and Electric Thermal Gabriel Hurtado González devices can be used to enhance efficiency, Storage (ETS) devices. develop new services, fine-tune decision 12 PES WIND making, solve intricate issues and create The Tesla Power wall2 is a battery that innovative solutions. For the energy market, provides energy by using solar power to store the IoT has brought a new insight, by excess energy generated during the day. It including new capabilities to support a wide acts as a buffer between the power grid and range of vertical markets, from industrial the home’s solar system; this smooths out controls to data centres alike. the supply and demand of electricity from the house as a whole3. Furthermore, this translates to greater flexibility to accommodate more energy The Steffes Corporation in Hawaii is resources, better management of assets and currently experimenting with the use of ETS operations, further improvement in devices to gain energy efficiency. These ETS reliability, as well as security and better devices take advantage of off-peak customer service. electricity (charged at a lower rate since consumption occurs when demand on the Introduction electrical grid is low) to provide heat in buildings during peak hours4. IoT has the potential of solving the main problems associated with renewable energy Benefits of IoT and Renewable Energy such as intermittency, variability, energy wastage and storage. IoT enables objects, • S mart Grids: In 2016, Deloitte5 published an which are part of a larger distributed system article that analysed how IoT was poised to to communicate effectively over the reshape the way utilities do business. In the internet. Hence, renewable energy sources in article, the firm wrote that IoT would most different locations can interact through an likely transform the grid from ‘a one-way energy cloud, to feed information to the system where power flows from centralized electric grid, when there is an excess or generation stations to consumers, to a shortfall in energy supply or demand. platform that can detect, accept and control
COMMENT: CONNECTIVITY decentralized consumption and production about 21%14. California features a electric-grid.html assets so that power and information can distributed energy network across the city flow as needed, in multiple directions6.’ monitored by IoT sensors, that allows the 8 h ttp://newsroom.fpl.com/2016-02-29- city to receive and redistribute energy to FPL-customers-benefit-from-more-than- D eloitte’s 2016 prediction is happening at a and from various energy sources15. 46-million-in-operational-savings-in- faster pace than anticipated. According to 2015-from-smart-grid-technology- NetworkWorld7, smart grids are one of the • Smart Factories: the manufacturing sector investments world’s largest IoT deployments, with an is being fundamentally reshaped by the estimated 500 million meters installed to development and adoption of IoT. Data from 9 https://www.businessinsider.de/ date’. This value is expected to reach up to 1 sensors and equipment in the production companies-utilities-save-with-iot-2015- billion by 2020’. line is retrieved, collated and analysed to 5?r=US&IR=T make manufacturing decisions. According to Florida Power and Light8, 10 https://bosscontrols.com/what-is-the- smart grid implementation resulted in M ore importantly, because IoT fundamentally energy-cloud/ US$3.4 million in productivity savings and relies on wireless connectivity, the flow of 99.98% service reliability. data in the overall production line occurs in 11 h ttps://internet-of-things-innovation. real time, thus improving overall production com/insights/the-blog/iot-technology- A dditionally, according to Business Insider9, efficiency. Based on research conducted by energy-sector/#.XKNkjTMzbRY financial benefits for companies that install Mckinsey and Company16, the economic smart grids could reach up to a cumulative impact of smart factories incorporating 12 h ttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ sum of US$160 billion annually. renewable energy, operational convergence, article/pii/S1876610216311055 IoT and IIoT could reach US$ 2.3 trillion per • Energy Cloud: The energy cloud year by 2025. 13 h ttps://stateofgreen.com/en/partners/ encompasses the software and hardware to state-of-green/news/10-examples-of- enable greater control and interoperability Conclusion smart-city-solutions/ across energy storage and low/zero carbon technologies. The energy cloud can According to a recent white paper published 14 h ttps://www.iotworldtoday. effectively enhance the efficient allocation by Intel17, the Industrial Internet of Things com/2016/05/18/world-s-5-smartest- of energy resources across a broad customer (IIoT) is already increasing the profitability of cities/2/ base, therefore, maximizing the potential of manufacturers by providing better visibility decentralized energy generation. into their production status, equipment 15 “IoT for Smart Grids: Design Challenges condition and other vital facets of operation. and Paradigms” by Kostas Siozios, The increased deployment rate of Also, according to MarketsandMarkets18, the Dimitrios Anagnostos, Dimitrios Soudris renewable energy technologies has been IIoT global market was valued at US$ 94 and Elias Kosmatopoulos, 2019 fuelled by the rapid growth of the energy billion in 2014 and projections show that this cloud. In fact, according to projections by will amount to US$ 151 billion by 2020, with a 16 https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/ energy analysts, between 2019 and 202310, Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of McKinsey/Business%20Functions/ there will be an addition of about 320 GW of 8.03% between 2015 and 2020. McKinsey%20Digital/Our%20Insights/ renewable energy technologies to the grid; The%20Internet%20of%20Things%20 facilitated by the energy cloud. Although, the main challenge facing the The%20value%20of%20digitizing%20 integration of IoT and renewable energy are the%20physical%20world/Unlocking_ • Zero-Energy Buildings: These buildings security concerns in relation to hacks and data the_potential_of_the_Internet_of_ derive 50% or more of their energy from the breaches on the energy cloud. The potential Things_Executive_summary.ashx grid and return an equivalent or higher for renewable energy use in combination with amount of energy to the grid through a fully developed IoT/IIoT/AI system are 17 h ttps://www.intel.com/content/dam/ renewable energy generated by the enormous. It is safe to say that the Fourth www/public/us/en/documents/ building. These buildings are gaining Industrial Revolution is finally here! white-papers/fourth-industrial- traction in the international scene. They are revolution-white-paper.pdf also associated with lower energy bills and 1 https://www.weforum.org/ carbon emissions. An integration of IoT, agenda/2017/06/internet-of-things-will- 18 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Artificial intelligence, renewables (solar and power-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/ Market-Reports/internet-of-things- wind), batteries and LED light systems are market-573.html used in zero energy buildings11. 2 h ttps://www.tesla.com/powerwall Gabriel Hurtado Gonzalez, Chartered • Smart Cities: Resilient, reliable, efficient 3 h ttps://www.leverege.com/blogpost/ Energy Manager at Mitie, and Sasaenia Paul and seamless energy flow are essential in renewable-energy-and-iot Oluwabunmi, Operations Officer at the smart cities. However, IoT and cloud OPEC Fund for International Development, computing are important to keep the 4 http://www.steffes.com/electric-thermal- are specialists in International Energy services of smart cities interconnected12. storage/ Solutions & Strategies. For instance, the water distribution network in Copenhagen features noise loggers and 5 https://www2.deloitte.com/insights/us/ Their portfolio includes multiple smart pumps to detect leaks and optimise en/focus/internet-of-things/iot-in- publications in Austria, Canada, China, water pressure13. electric-power-industry.html Egypt, New Zealand, UK and the United States. Barcelona has extensive traffic 6 h ttps://www.joiscientific.com/iot- management sensors, cameras and traffic distributed-renewable-energy-and-the- They have extensive experience in business lights to keep the traffic moving as much as grid/ development, project management and possible while actively monitoring air energy systems engineering. quality, thus improving overall air quality by 7 https://www.networkworld.com/ article/3252149/securing-the-largest-iot- deployments-in-the-world-the-smart- WWW.PESWIND.COM 13
CONFERENCE CALL Let the show begin! + 3000 Attendees + 3 Conference Steams + 40 Countries + 150 Speakers + 160 Exhibitors + 4 Knowledge Theatres Global Offshore Wind 2019 is coming up this month and PES are excited to bring you an overview of what you can expect to experience at this great event. The UK is the most exciting offshore wind market in the world in 2019, with up to 6GW of new capacity coming forward at record low prices. The debate about the economic value and energy opportunity of offshore wind is over. The UK is the home of offshore wind, and this technology will be the catalyst of our energy transition. 14 PES WIND
CONFERENCE CALL Leading UK developers are expanding into than ever before on the world-stage. The the spotlight, with the launch of the new markets like the USA and Taiwan, who in market is already truly global. Capacity is set Offshore Wind Growth Partnership. turn are opening up opportunities for export to grow, especially in Asia and the first and investment across the globe. largescale offshore installations are Keynote political speakers include The Rt expected in North America in 2022 or 2023. Hon Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under- Tap into this world of opportunity at Global Secretary at BEIS, Julia King, Baroness Brown Offshore Wind 2019, the UK’s largest 2018 marked a pivotal year where China, for of Cambridge and Sector Deal Champion and dedicated offshore wind conference and the first time, installed and connected more Governor Charlie Baker from Massachusetts. exhibition taking place from 25th to 26th June offshore capacity than any other country Governor Baker, a Republican, is a strong at the ExCeL London This global event is with 1.8GW, including the UK which took advocate for action to tackle climate change organised by RenewableUK in partnership second place with 1.3GW. This trend shows and a staunch supporter of offshore wind and with industry leaders Equinor, innogy, MHI the expansion and growth of offshore wind the development of energy storage. Vestas Offshore Wind, Offshore Renewable beyond the UK, where it has achieved so Energy Catapult and ScottishPower much, into the markets where there is so Networking exhibition and theatres Renewables and supported by the Global much more to do. Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the RenewableUK exhibitions are the shop front Department for International Trade (DIT). The UK still is the leading offshore wind and melting pot for our industry. With market and the Sector Deal between 8000m2 of exhibition and networking space, The future of offshore wind Government and industry makes the UK 3,000 participants, and 150 exhibitors, this market unique: offshore wind will be the is the place to showcase your solutions, As the world looks for competitive, zero power at the centre of the UK energy system, build relationships and business carbon energy sources that can be deployed with at least 30GW installed by 2030. partnerships, talk policy and influence at a grand scale, in relatively fast time decision makers. frames, offshore wind is in greater demand There is no better market in the world to get to get to know the issues, investment Global Markets supporters, The Department opportunities, and companies working on the for International Trade (DIT) and Global Wind global energy transition than the UK in 2019. Energy Council (GWEC), provide a powerful platform for new export business World class conference development at Global Offshore Wind. In addition to leading the Global Markets Featuring over 200 expert speakers across Theatre programme, they will lead inward five theatres, the power-packed conference trade delegations from Taiwan, China, USA, covers pioneering technologies such as Japan and Europe, connecting them with floating foundations, AI and robotics, which companies on the exhibition floor. DIT are opening up new opportunities and Commercial officers, from over 20 countries, markets across the globe. There is an entire will also present on export opportunities in stream dedicated to the global energy global markets and be available to meet transition and the rapid shift away from fossil participants at the DIT Stand. fuels in response to climate change and how offshore wind can accelerate decarbonisation. New for 2019 Also being discussed is the political, legal The first intergovernmental forum on and commercial impact of Brexit, helping emerging offshore wind markets will be at companies navigate Brexit with this event, brought together by the World perspectives from government, legal Bank Group and GWEC. The forum will be experts and the international supply chain. attended by delegates from around 15 The global opportunity offered by the UK non-OECD governments as well as Offshore Wind Sector Deal will also be under representatives from industry and investors, WWW.PESWIND.COM 15
CONFERENCE CALL and will encompass a series of activities, The Logistics Theatre covers logistics What makes this event unmissable? including networking activities at Global optimisation, heavy lifting strategies and the Offshore Wind 2019. rise of autonomous vessels. Also, the G+ Global Offshore Wind 2019 provides not only annual incident data report, will be launched a powerful focus on the role of offshore wind The Innovation Theatre, sponsored by MHI at this theatre and discussed by Jonathan in our energy transition, sparking future tech, Vestas Offshore Wind, is where delegates Cole, Managing Director of Iberdrola Global building a modern workforce, investing in our can discover the latest and greatest Offshore Business. supply chain and global markets for growth, innovations in the industry. Quiz industry but actively creates more opportunities for leaders on their power to disrupt and Finally, we’re proud to launch our first official industry, company, and personal growth. provide opportunities for the future. event app, which enables delegates to make every minute count and maximise their Grab your place at the year’s largest dedicated The Subsea Theatre, supported by Subsea networking and with easy access to the offshore wind conference and exhibition and UK, will look at the cross section of the cables programme, exhibitor information, delegates tap into the unparalleled offshore industry highlighting the size of market, and meeting booking facilities. opportunities at Global Offshore Wind 2019. common challenges and why it’s so important. Events.RenewableUK.com/GOW19 About RenewableUK RenewableUK members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. RenewableUK are a UK membership body with a mission to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK. We support over 400 members to access UK markets and to export all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry. 16 PES WIND
25 – 26 June ExCeL London Global Markets Modern Workforce UK OFFSHORE WIND Supply Chain THE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY #RUKGOW19 #OffshoreOpportunity Energy Transition Future Tech Attend.Exhibit.Sponsor Events.RenewableUK.com/GOW19
WHAT’S BEYOND THE HORIZON? Find out in COPENHAGEN at Offshore 2019, the world’s leading offshore wind event. 26-28 November 2019 Bella Center Find out more at: windeurope.org/offshore2019 EVENT AMBASSADORS: IN COLLABORATION WITH: To become an exhibitor or sponsor please contact: [email protected]
PTAELSKEISNSGEPNOTINALT Testing and validation of large wind turbine blades Words: Steffen Czichon, Florian Sayer, Moritz Bätge Abstract: The continuing increase in rotor diameters is pushing the structural load-carrying capabilities of turbine blades to the limit. In order to ensure reliability and structural integrity, representative testing and validation methods are now more important than ever before. WWWWWW.P.EPSEWSWININD.DC.OCMOM 1919
PES ESSENTIAL Development in wind turbine blades predominantly taken up by the leading and detecting design flaws as early as possible in trailing edge, which are often reinforced with the design process increases with the high Wind turbine manufacturers are continuing additional unidirectional layers. development costs of very long blades. to increase rotor diameters with the aim of Consequently, extensive and representative boosting annual energy production (AEP). As gravitational loads become more validation and testing campaigns are desired Due to the high installation costs per turbine, influential compared to wind loads for longer throughout the design process. this is especially true for offshore blades, but blades, the structural load-carrying onshore turbines are also increasing in size, capability of the leading and trailing edge is of Full-Scale Mechanical Testing as multi-megawatt turbines are being increasing importance. Take for example a developed for lower wind speeds. typical turbine with a 20-year operational life, Full-scale mechanical blade testing is a 120m rotor, and a tip speed of 80 m/s, the performed according to Part 23 of the IEC Direct scaling of blade dimensions would resulting loads across the blade’s leading and 61400 standard and consists of extreme load result in a cubic relationship between blade trailing edge will change as a result of gravity static tests, a fatigue test emulating the mass and blade length. However, this is changes approx. 100 million times. This high entire service life, and post-fatigue static certainly too conservative for some areas of number of cycles combined with high tests. Due to the increasing size of the the blade, for example the skin panels, material loading and the variability of the turbine blades, fewer test facilities are able which need to scale with the blade surface loads make blades one of the highest to accommodate mechanical testing of the area. Thus, a theoretical scaling exponent fatigue-loaded technical structures. latest blade models. below three is expected. In the past, this ‘square-cube law’ has repeatedly been Assuming unchanging or similar materials Limiting factors for the capacity to test beaten due to both design and material for future blades, structural reserves can turbine blades are the length of the test hall innovations, and scaling factors between only be better utilized by reducing safety and the hall height, which is required to 2.2 and 2.4 have been reported. This margins. As the structural reliability is not accommodate the large deformations during illustrates how structural load carrying to be reduced, this requires a much better both static and dynamic testing. However, capabilities are pushed to the limits. understanding of material and structural the most crucial factor is the ability of the behavior. As such, great efforts are test rig to carry both static and fatigue Put simply, mechanical loads on wind turbine invested in capturing and predicting the bending moments. blades can be categorized into flapwise damage behavior of blades and the loads, which are caused directly by the wind, influence of manufacturing effects. The IWES operates two test rigs geared to and edgewise loads, which originate from the Evaluation of manufacturing defects test blades around 70m and 90m in length generated torque and the gravitational loads. becomes of the utmost importance for long respectively. A third rig, designed to test blades, as the costs attached to discarding large blades of more than 115m in length, is Spar caps consisting of unidirectional glass a blade increase exponentially with the under construction and will enter operation or carbon fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP/ blade length. in 2021. CFRP) carry the main loads in the direction of the flap. The edge bending moment is Using a similar argument, the importance of Fatigue tests are usually executed in both the edge and flap direction separately. More Rotor diameters for selected turbines 20 PES WIND
PTAELSKEISNSGEPNOTINALT Innovative validation concepts for wind turbine blades representative testing is possible through dual Well-designed tests of original size cut-outs components between 5 m and 20 m in length, axis tests. As fatigue tests are performed using offer at least the same level of model which is expected to be operational by the harmonic excitation for energetic reasons, the validation as a full-scale blade test for a end of 2019, in addition to its existing one. main challenge with dual axis testing is to deal limited area of the blade. While the area of with the different eigenfrequencies in the flap interest is limited, sub-component tests Coatings and LEP Systems and edge direction. allow for a more flexible load definition as possible in a full-scale blade test. For As wind turbines operate under harsh As the test duration is dominated by the instance, certain critical loading scenarios environmental conditions, leading edge natural frequency of the blade, testing blades can be specifically targeted. Likewise, protection is a substantial challenge for the above the 100m mark results in very long specific failure modes can be triggered industry. Failure to protect the blade surface testing times. As time-to-market is a critical during testing, which cannot easily be results in loss of energy production and parameter in a competitive industry, test covered in a full-scale test. costly repair efforts. Consequently, a reliable times are sought to be shortened. leading edge protection system is essential Accordingly, the IWES has proposed Sub-component testing is already included for wind turbine blades. Both retrofit segmented blade testing, where the root and as optional in the upcoming IEC standard. solutions and technologies for newly a tip segment of a blade are tested While more costly and time-consuming than manufactured blades are required. separately. Comparative studies have shown material tests at coupon level, sub- that a reduction in both test time and test component tests provide a validation level Due to the high economic importance, great cost can be obtained for blades longer than which is much closer to the full-scale blade pressure is also put on test and validation 100m when using segmented testing. test yet significantly cheaper and faster. methods. In its Leading Edge Lab, the IWES Using intelligent test campaign definitions, operates a helicopter test rig. This rig runs at Sub-Component Testing combinations of segment and sub- relatively low speeds and with a large component testing can even reduce quantity of water droplets, which allows for Sub-component testing can be categorized time-to-market at an increased level of highly accelerated testing without putting into generic specimens representing typical validation and reliability. excessive strain on the samples as is the case blade structures such as beams or joints and at high test speeds. For the investigation of 1:1 cut-outs of full-scale blades. Generic As sub-component tests are expected to cold-climate turbines, the rig can be cooled sub-components can be used early in the play an increasing role in future blade down to -10°C in order to study ice accretion design process to verify design certifications, the IWES is currently and the interaction with rain erosion. assumptions, but also to substantiate constructing a new test rig for sub- allowable design values. Experience has shown that the performance WWW.PESWIND.COM 21
PES ESSENTIAL of leading edge protection systems varies largely between individual sites and 1:1 cut out test of blade trailing edge turbines. A number of factors are believed to influence performance, namely environmental conditions and – especially for retrofit solutions – application conditions. The IWES Leading Edge Lab is equipped with climate chambers and offers advanced test campaigns that take environmental and application conditions such as humidity, temperature, UV lighting, and others into consideration. Summary Large blades require special care in terms of testing and validation, as the costs associated with structural failures are increasing. In order to support the wind industry in producing the best blades possible, Fraunhofer IWES has continued to develop an extensive test infrastructure to meet the increasing need for the accelerated and representative testing and validation of wind turbine blades. A strong focus has been placed on the development of testing methodology such as sub-component testing and segment testing. www.iwes.fraunhofer.de Fraunhofer IWES Leading Edge Lab 22 PES WIND
ASK THE EXPERTS: ENGINEERING Cost control along with enhanced safety and productivity Ben Webster, Sales & Tendering Manager at Osbit, dropped into PES to tell us about their engineering challenges and solutions, which are driven by efficiency and tailored to the requirements of the customers in the offshore wind sector, in particular, but not exclusively. Health and safety awareness is a top priority throughout every project. Osbit Pile Cleaner Ben Webster renewable projects across the globe. Our PES: For those of our readers who don’t solutions, which are tailored to suit each know would you like to explain the PES: Hi Ben, welcome to PES Wind, it’s good project, support the efficiency drive of significance of the name Osbit? to talk to you. Would you like to begin by offshore wind farm developers and O&M giving us a brief overview of Osbit? contractors to control costs and enhance BW: Osbit is an acronym of ‘On Spec, Budget Ben Webster: Osbit designs and builds next safety and productivity. and In Time’, a phrase coined by our generation back-deck and subsea Executive Chairman, Dr Tony Trapp, to engineering technology, to support offshore We solve our customers’ operational describe the key components of an ideal problems by developing tailored, turnkey project delivery process. It’s an ethos Tony engineering solutions. Our engineers have practices and a phrase he has used for many accumulated decades of experience across years, so when he came to set up Osbit with the offshore industry. Our founder, Dr Tony his fellow directors, it fitted really well. Trapp, has been involved in the global offshore wind industry from the start and We undertake a really quite diverse range of was part of developing the world’s first first-of-kind projects, which are designed to subsea trenching vehicles. operate in many different offshore wind technology areas. However, the guiding We combine this unique level of experience, principle of delivering On Spec, Budget and In with fresh thinking and new innovations, to Time – OSBIT, remains the same no matter deliver a diverse range of back-deck and what we’re designing and which technology subsea technology for use in offshore wind. sector it is for. Our key technology streams include access systems, subsea trenching vehicles, The name also references our commitment foundation installation equipment and cable to developing the most appropriately testing rigs. engineered solution for the task, a philosophy we call Informed Engineering. If In recent years, we have significantly grown budget is the main constraint, we develop our presence in the UK and international our design with this in mind and, equally, if renewable markets, most notably in offshore time or specification is our customer’s main wind, in which our customer base continues project driver, then we think about this in to expand significantly. every aspect of our system’s design. 24 PES WIND
ASK THE EXPERTS: ENGINEERING This enables us to prioritise, but also C221 Osbit GMS Boat Landing (1) encourages engineering creativity. We come up with new ideas, but we don’t innovate purely for innovation’s sake – everything has a purpose. PES: We are keen to hear about your offshore wind capabilities, when did you venture into this sector? BW: Key members of our team have been involved in the offshore wind industry from the very beginning. As I mentioned, the first subsea trenchers were developed in our region, by a team including our Executive Chairman and we are building on this heritage, by developing next-generation assets, components and control technology. North East England, where we’re based, has been a global hub for engineering since Victorian times and we are proud to continue this legacy. Among our first projects was the development of our award-winning MaXccess access systems, which enable safe, efficient transfer between CTVs and offshore wind turbines. Since developing these CTV access systems, we have evolved to specialise in providing bespoke access systems to suit a broad variety of operations and vessels. WWW.PESWIND.COM 25
ASK THE EXPERTS: ENGINEERING However, offshore wind is still a key market along with monopile survey and measurement (HSEQ) is at the forefront of everything you for us today. In the past year, we have capabilities. Previously, each of these tasks do, but what exactly does that entail? supplied 4 different types of subsea would require the use of individual systems, trenching machines, most recently the Scion significantly increasing the duration and BW: For us, this means safety is integrated 240 pre-lay plough for Global Marine Group. complexity of the installation programme. into every area of the business and we We have provided numerous inter-array maintain the highest standards possible. A cable installation spreads and have worked Similarly, for Gulf Marine Services (GMS) we few months ago, we achieved ISO with our clients to reduce cycle times and also developed a bespoke tailored 26-metre- 45001:2018 certification for our occupational increase operator safety for cable tall access tower, which features an integrated health & safety management systems, less installation at offshore wind projects. boat landing system. Through early than a year after the standard was launched. collaboration with GMS, we were able to tailor PES: Are you able to tell us about some of the system to deliver the efficient movement We believe in continuous improvement and your key projects so far? of 200 passengers per day, without being making sure that all of our staff, regardless of impacted by the height of the jack-up vessel. their seniority, feel empowered to voice their BW: Clients often seek our expertise to opinion. This is reflected in our ‘Stop the provide equipment for operational Time was also a key driver on this project, Work’ ethos, which enables anyone to pause scenarios that they haven’t conducted and we were able to deliver the completed an engineering operation, if they feel it is previously, so we’re very frequently involved system, from concept to commissioning, unsafe. HSEQ is fully embedded in our in supplying first of type systems, for a within a five-month lead-time. The system day-to-day culture, as well as our variety of applications. was installed on GMS’s Endeavour jack-up management processes and everyone in the vessel and has played a key role in supporting company plays their part. A good example of this is a combined the development of Hornsea One offshore monopile cleaning, anode cage deployment wind farm. PES: What do you think makes Osbit stand and survey tool, Osbit supplied to Van Oord. out, why should customers choose you? Designed, built and installed by Osbit, this Our team’s expertise lies in solving our client’s unique technology was first deployed at the complex operational needs across a diverse BW: First and foremost, we are experts in Walney Extension offshore wind farm. The range of technology streams and so in most what we do, we are genuinely passionate bespoke tool has delivered combined cases, the technology we develop is always about engineering and we want to deliver real monopile cleaning, anode cage lifting and key to enabling safe, successful operations. value and help drive the global offshore wind installation capability, to 30m water depth, industry forward. PES: We know that health and safety C062 Osbit WOWF MaXccess T18 (51) 26 PES WIND
ASK THE EXPERTS: ENGINEERING C198 Osbit VO Pile Cleaner (21) From a customer’s perspective, we pride the length and mass are also increasing. Osbit has recently developed systems for ourselves on our ability to work These changes are forcing vessel owners to both approaches, driven by the requirements collaboratively with our clients to fully find new, adapted installation methods for of our customers, their vessels, and the understand their operational requirements monopile foundations. location of the projects being undertaken. and transform these into appropriate technical solutions. The difficulty is to maintain the verticality of Both approaches draw on our expertise to a monopile whilst the vessel is moving and supply tailored, appropriate technology to Often, we’re tasked with providing manage the forces of nature impacting on meet the challenges of the current and equipment or a handling solution for a new the pile, whilst it is being installed. upcoming offshore wind installation projects. offshore operation, or one that an existing solution isn’t available for. This requires our Osbit is responding to these market Whether our customer needs active motion firm grasp of engineering fundamentals to requirements, which can also meet the control of deck equipment, or reliable subsea break the problem down and ensure the increasing interest in making use of floating systems featuring precise hydraulic control & system is designed to achieve the client’s crane vessels, by developing tailored turbine monitoring systems, we are able to produce operational requirements, whilst foundation installation equipment using our adapted and effective solutions to support withstanding the frequently challenging proven, modular technology. their project delivery. loads under which it must operate. One approach to foundation installation is to More generally, from our position at the Through this close and early collaboration, we provide a motion compensated pile gripper forefront of design and manufacture of apply what we call our ‘informed engineering’ frame, which actively adjusts its motion to engineered technology solutions, we aim to approach, which enables our engineers to maintain the gripper frame stationary in continue challenging convention, applying deliver a solution that is appropriately tailored space. A different alternative is to use a fresh thinking and building collaborative to suit our customer’s unique needs. template mounted on the seabed to stabilise relationships with clients. There are always the monopile during pile installation. new challenges and requirements in PES: What’s next for Osbit in the offshore offshore wind and our strength is in wind market? The challenge is to ensure the subsea developing appropriately engineered equipment has the reliability, integrity and solutions to solve them! BW: There are a series of new challenges strength to withstand the environmental loads facing turbine installation contractors. while operating in a subsea environment. www.osbit.com Monopile diameters are getting bigger and WWW.PESWIND.COM 27
TALKING POINT Top software for service providers If you are a service provider within the wind industry, you do definitely have a lot of equipment that needs to be inspected regularly. This could be PPE equipment, hand tools, measuring instruments, hydraulic tools, torque wrenches, lifting gear, rescue equipment and much more. In addition, there are all the training certificates that your employees must have, in order to carry out their work for your company. Many try to keep track of the above by using a management software in the wind industry; site, a service vehicle, or an equipment self-developed EXCEL sheet, but as soon as the system provides a great overview of all container. All of the main and sub-locations the person, who has developed the sheet the equipment and the certificates that you that are needed can be set up. leaves the company, no one else can work it enter into it. out. At the same time, EXCEL does not • When is the next regulatory inspection due? provide a great overview. Fantastic and instant overview • H ow many lifting bags do I have ready for Therefore, many service providers have Readunit provides a constantly updated dispatch right now? chosen to gather the management of the overview of the status of all equipment. above into one and the same system, namely • H ow many PPE sets can I pack for a given READUNIT. Readunit is the leading tool Locations can be set up to keep an overview project? of equipment. A location can be a customer, a 28 PES WIND
TALKING POINT ‘Readunit is visual and therefore easily accessible to users; the smart graphical interface enhances the joy of working with the system.’ Automatic notifications – Readunit does During your tests, which can be carried out current equipment, and the documents can the work for you on both PC and smartphone (IOS, Android), then be accessed via smartphone both you can document any defects in both text online and offline. Readunit can send automatic notifications and images. out to your employees and to external Readunit is visual and therefore easily suppliers. If you test your own lifting gear, Accompanying documents, such as accessible to users; the smart graphical the system will automatically send calibration reports, manuals, tensioning interface enhances the joy of working with information about upcoming lifting gear tables, can easily be attached to the the system. tests to the relevant persons. If you have external parties performing checks on your survival suits, the system can send notifications to your suppliers with the message: ‘It is time for WIND A/S to undergo an inspection. There are 14 units, as can be seen in the table below.’ ‘Please contact Peter to arrange a date for an inspection’ Inspection The equipment inspection is made easy and structured in Readunit; pre-defined test points on all equipment is carried out step by step - just like a pilot, who runs through the checklist each time before take-off - thereby ensuring a high degree of consistency in your quality approach to equipment inspection. WWW.PESWIND.COM 29
TALKING POINT Keep track of your employees’ can now be done in a few minutes. overview is maintained. When the course is competencies/certificates completed, the new certificate is uploaded in Not only is it easy to find the competencies Readunit and the time set for the next course If you need to submit a quote to a customer and the related certificates - keeping track of renewal is reset and starts again. and if you need to document that you have 4 the validity of all employees’ certificates is at employees with the combination of ‘Sea least as easy. For example: 60 days before a Give your customer access survival’ ‘First Aid’ and ‘Working at heights’. certificate expires, the system sends an Readunit can help you find the people and overview to the person responsible for You may give your customer access to see prepare the certificates to send to the booking courses. When the course is booked the status of equipment relevant to him; in customer in less than 30 seconds. Work that it can be marked in Readunit and thus an this way, the customer can find most of the in the past would have taken several hours, answers to any questions 24/7. 30 PES WIND
TALKING POINT Set a ‘commissioning’ interval for your GPS period of time. equipment If you want to track either some equipment Companies of all sizes can use Readunit You can set a specific ‘commissioning’ interval or an entire container, it’s possible to do this per location and then per device type. by attaching a GPS signal to it and then you Whether your company is small, in full can always see where your equipment is expansion, or well established, with many The commissioning interval will ‘overrule’ the located. You can also observe how the employees, Readunit can be customized to usual inspection interval set for the individual equipment has moved within a certain your company’s specific needs. Imagine equipment - e.g. 365 days. The being able to scan your equipment at any commissioning runs constantly and cannot time and check that it is safe for usage. You be ‘stopped’ at a quarantine status, as will also receive e-mails from the system, happens during the inspection interval. ahead of testing your equipment, with clear instructions on what needs to be done. Therefore, by using commissioning you can be sure that your equipment undergoes an Or imagine that, once you have followed inspection at least when the commissioning predefined test points and implemented interval has expired. The interval resets and these tests, you do not have to think about restarts when an inspection has been the subsequent documentation, because the completed. The inspection is either system takes care of this for you. Similarly initiated by the regular inspection interval imagine a system in which there is always or at commissioning. 100% visual overview of safety data on ALL equipment and ALL employees, and in which equipment can be moved between employees with a few mouse clicks. All the above is what you get with Readunit, plus much, much more. Get started The Readunit team will assist you securely through the transformation, and our system interconnects with EXCEL. In addition, with all modesty, we are very good at reshuffling data! Within about 14 days our staff can help propel your business into the modern age – this is how long effective implementation takes. You do not have to be an IT expert to be able to work with the system. Most users work in our app in which they perform continuous audits, as well as the testing and inspection of equipment. The visual user interface makes everyone feel secure in using the system already after a few hours, and if you need any help, we are ready to assist you. You can contact us on [email protected] or phone +45 6988 4748 www.readunit.com WWW.PESWIND.COM 31
ASK THE EXPERTS: ACCOMMODATION Mobile offshore room solutions for plug and play ELA Container Offshore GmbH is going from strength to strength. Their mobile room solutions are versatile and easy to assemble and fix in situ. There are options to rent or buy. Hans Gatzemeier, the Managing Director, spoke with us at PES. The company are having a great year and have already met their 2019 target. They have many trusted partners and their reach is worldwide. Hans Gatzemeier We keenly follow their developments and are meet the growing need. Once an opportunity always ready to assist them with mobile, arises, we ready to quickly implement new PES: Hi Hans, it’s great to have you back. The temporary accommodation solutions. innovations. good news is that we have many new readers, so for their benefit, please could you give us a As a result, our clients are interested in Our used containers are also in high demand. brief overview of ELA Containers? purchasing both new and used containers, as These are attractive to customers because well as in renting containers. They are they are in excellent condition and come at a Hans Gatzemeier: As you know we have particularly interested in the latter when it lower cost. been supplying mobile room solutions for 47 comes to temporary. years now. We offer a huge variety of room PES: Your mobile rooms are available in sizes, which can be combined in many ways. We regularly produce more to be able to various configurations. How do you When working with offshore supply vessels or platforms it´s really important to meet the Office building ELA Container Offshore GmbH in Haren, Germany high specifications and to use the limited available space effective. PES: We know that the offshore wind power market is expanding – how do you manage to keep up with it? HG: We constantly monitor the offshore wind market as it grows worldwide. Our focus isn’t just Europe. We are also interested in Taiwan, China, the USA and even Australia. At local trade fairs and conferences, we are eager to get an idea of the current atmosphere and advances in the market. What is also important, of course, is how our clients position themselves. 32 PES WIND
ASK THE EXPERTS: ACCOMMODATION 20ft ELA Offshore ALLROUNDER Living Quarter with shared sanitary unit determine exact client needs? Which simply make a call. We are happy to provide contact form on our website: information is necessary? comprehensive support and advice to www.ela-offshore.com. There you can see HG: This varies. For example, regular clients determine optimal requirements. an extensive range of products, as well as forward their requirements for containers lots of information and data sheets on our directly to us. The purchase and/or rental Naturally, delivery time, location and room solutions. prices, types and delivery times will have whether the item is to be rented or sold also been dealt with previously in a framework play an important role. Once we have PES: What do you do if the client has agreement. gathered all the information, we draw up a 3D specific requirements? For example, can Those who are interested, yet not quite sure illustration and an make an informative offer you adapt your containers to different what they need, usually enquire via email or as soon as possible after this. needs? Equipped as an office Many enquiries also come to us via our HG: This depends on whether the client wishes to rent or buy. For rentals, we provide containers from the rental park. These are ready assembled and furnished, and completely meet the requirements for temporary accommodation at sea. Clients wishing to purchase usually have their own specifications. This often involves special measurements, specific configurations, certificates, company colours or use of logos. Our production is based in Germany and this means we can respond to all client wishes and also make any necessary changes which arise during the manufacturing process. PES: Do your offshore room solutions come with a standard layout, or can the client ask for changes? HG: For rented containers, the layout is fixed. It is standardised and extremely functional. The advantage of this is that we can assemble all types of units easily, free of WWW.PESWIND.COM 33
ASK THE EXPERTS: ACCOMMODATION Production hall in Haren, Germany purchased containers, the delivery time PES: We wondering if clients are able to depends on the number of requested assemble and connect the containers problems, and as quickly as possible. Above containers and the agreement with the client. themselves? all, we strive to satisfy all our client requests as much as possible. PES: Who is responsible for transporting HG: ELA Offshore Containers are assembled the containers? to platforms or ships by using twist locks. As already mentioned before, purchases are This is very easy to do, just put the container somewhat different. Here clients usually HG: We can transport them ourselves or in place, lock them, and the job is done. already have exact ideas of how the mobile seek the support of shipping companies. room solutions should look. Alternatively, Occasionally, shipments are combined. The fresh water, waste water and electric they seek advice from us. connections can be done on site by specialist For sea shipments, we use our own shipping personnel. Thanks to our pre-installed ‘Plug In both cases, we recommend a so-called agents. They know our products thoroughly & Play’ system, this also is easy. We are also ‘kick-off meeting’. Here both parties can and can provide the best possible transport happy to assist our customers through the share their expertise and put the planning prices for it. entire installation. into concrete terms. This can take place in our headquarters, or at client’s premises, no PES: Would you say that your clients are PES: Is the after-sales service important to matter where they are in the world. predominantly based in Europe? you as a company and what type of guarantee do you offer? PES: What sort of delivery times are to be HG: Our clients are based in different parts expected after ordering? of the world and accordingly operate globally HG: As standard, the scope of our guarantee – as we do. meets legal requirements. This can be HG: If in stock in our rental fleet, rented extended by the client with maintenance containers are immediately available. For agreements. Then we ensure permanent maintenance of all wear parts and replace them free of charge in the event of damage. PES: How internationally oriented are you? HG: The ELA group, as well as a number of European sites, has branches in Russia, the UAE and the USA. In addition to this, we have partners worldwide who follow our approach and with whom we cooperate. PES: We are halfway through 2019. How has the year been for you? HG: Very good – we have already achieved the goals we set the last year. At this point, we are thankful for the wide acceptance within the market, are looking forward to new challenges and are looking positively towards the future. www.ela-offshore.com Container unit is made up of the type ALLROUNDER with stairway and gangways Container unit on a vessel 34 PES WIND
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THINK TANK Surface preparation offshore The value of testing coating systems for offshore wind structures Offshore wind structures are exposed to an extremely corrosive environment. As a result, corrosion rates of steel are high, >0.5 mm/year, and coating systems must perform extremely well. Jo van Montfort from Bjond, gives PES his professional viewpoint on some of the pitfalls of the current certification processes and outcomes. This means all stakeholders involved need to increase their level of knowledge in this area. 36 PES WIND
THINK TANK The most important requirement for a coating In the recently updated EN-ISO 12944 (Lit.3) strict quality control (QC) has to be enforced system for an offshore wind structure in the standard, a new atmospheric corrosivity during production. leading directive, DNVGL-RP-0416, is as category is also defined: CX which is more follows: ‘Sufficient attention must be paid to aggressive than the previous C5-M We believe that strict QC does not prevent the design life of the structure and the category and applicable for offshore areas premature failure of coating systems, which economic aspects of repairing the coating if with high salinity. are not suitable for practical application necessary (and realistic).’ In our opinion this In this standard, under section 5, it is clearly conditions. When for example more than 3 means 25 years maintenance free, because stated that the selection of a paint system for layers are required and a substantial amount repairing/maintaining a coating system under a specific situation, should preferably be of solvents (>10%) are added there is offshore conditions is undesirable, almost based on experience gained from using the considerable risk of undetected issues during impossible and very expensive (x1000 versus system in similar circumstances. It also states application, which could lead to early failures. a paintjob onshore). that results from artificial-ageing tests must be used with caution and that it is difficult to Our observations Therefore, the durability ranges in the latest reliably rank paint systems of very different leading coating standard EN ISO 12944 have compositions, according to the artificial- Unfortunately, we note that standards do not been revised. Now a very high (VH) durability ageing tests in the laboratory. It further says: take unequivocal positions when it comes to range has been included, which means the ‘this can sometimes lead to efficient selecting coating systems for offshore first maintenance work should not be protective paint systems being rejected conditions. As a result, mandatory tests are necessary for 25 years. In the former version because they cannot pass these tests.’ imposed to create a ‘certainty’ by pre- and until now this was for 15 years. The Unfortunately, the reverse also occurs, as we qualifying the coating system and, in the question is how to achieve that? have seen ourselves and this is supported by worst case, to certify the project. Weinell et al. (Lit.1), where NORSOK approved Current situation coating systems fail within a few years. To explain why this is a ‘false/insufficient Due to insufficient knowledge and certainty’ we first have to look a little further In the offshore wind industry, guidelines and experience in this area, mandatory testing into what testing a coating actually entails. standards such as DNVGL-RP-0416 (Lit.4) according to recognized standards is Testing means that the coating system and EN-ISO 12944 are used as a basis for imposed, without properly understanding is applied under perfect, controlled selecting a coating system. According to the the poor relationship with the required long circumstances, on a perfectly prepared DNVGL-RP-0416 directive, coating systems maintenance-free lifespan. One could call flat panel. must be pre-qualified in accordance with this ‘unconscious incompetence’. recognized standards, e.g. NORSOK M-501, Not only we, but also others (Lit.1), These panels are exposed to accelerated EN ISO 12944, ISO 20340). acknowledge that pre-qualification tests aging tests. The primary focus is to test alone are not sufficient to obtain the right resistance to water or moisture, and salt fog, coating systems for actual application. All as an indication of wet adhesion and barrier experts agree that the lifetime of a coating properties. system, as well as the material properties, also depend a lot on the quality of surface In real practice, we never encounter perfect preparation, the coating thickness and the circumstances, nor perfect surface quality of workmanship. Since these factors preparation. Added to which, failures almost are usually the most uncertain elements, always never occur on the flat parts. They mainly arise on edges, bolted connections, Coating failure on edges and bolts notches, welds etc. Locations where there is a serious chance of internal (tensile) stress inside the coating, which results in micro, WWW.PESWIND.COM 37
THINK TANK Loading foundations meso, macro cracks. The tolerance of the The durability is of course also linked to the ageing tests must be used with caution. This coating systems for these effects is not chemical and physical characteristics of the is because artificial ageing will not included in the recognized and mandatory coating system, e.g. the type of binder and necessarily have the same effect as natural tests (Lit.2). the dry-film thickness. The influence of exposure. Many factors have an influence on these characteristics on the durability can be the progress of degradation, and, in the Effective accelerated aging lab testing evaluated by artificial-ageing tests. laboratory, it is not possible to accelerate all should simulate the failure modes in the field Apart from this we and ISO 12944 of them in the appropriate way. It is such as: emphasize that results from artificial- therefore almost impossible to rank paint systems, made up of very different • Tolerance for deviating conditions with Salt spray test on scribed panels regard to substrate pre-treatment and environmental conditions by use of physical testing. • Premature coating failure at sharp edges, corners, and weld seams. • Measuring development of mechanical properties as a function of (accelerated) aging tests. • Etc. To cover this NACE has published several test standards for offshore coatings, to qualify both new construction and maintenance coatings for atmospheric, splash zone, water ballast tank and water immersion areas. NACE standards also include physical testing, such as thermal cycling, edge retention and film flexibility, while in most cases only the coating corrosion resistance is tested. 38 PES WIND
• Coating experts • Experts construction materials • Corrosion experts Bjond are independent coating experts Bjond knows how to find the best solutions that are cost that know how to protect steel and effective and technically fit for purpose. concrete, under difficult conditions. Bjond considers coatings as building materials with physical and material properties. We make the difference because we know which properties are relevant. We always look beyond existing standards and tests www.bjond.be t +31 629 70 51 79 [email protected]
THINK TANK compositions, based only on artificial- Test panels in lab position when it comes to selecting coating ageing tests in the laboratory. systems for offshore conditions. to avoid extremely high maintenance and In our own practice we always take into repair costs. www.bjond.be account this apparently unpredictability of protective coatings. We fully underline the Considering this, we at Bjond would argue for: www.bjond.nl approach as presented in EN-ISO 12944-9. This standard says that the selection of a • M aking all participants involved aware of the Lit.1: Claus Erik Weinell, New developments paint system for a specific situation should need to engage independent expertise with in coatings for extended lifetime for offshore preferably be based on experience from the the aim of saving costs in the long term. wind structures, NACE paper 9364, 2017. use of the system in similar cases. The reason is that the durability of a paint system • A n increase in the level of knowledge on Lit.2: Benjamin T. Chang, A., Accelerated depends on many external factors, such as coatings for designers and contractors by offshore coating performance testing, NACE the environment, the design of the structure, working with experts at an early stage of paper 9134, 2017. the surface preparation, and the application the design process. and drying procedures. Lit.3. EN-ISO 12944-9, Protective paint • A clear fit for purpose selection procedures systems and laboratory performance test It is recommended that natural-exposure for coatings based on the relationship methods for offshore and related structures trials always be undertaken so that, in the between construction type (paintability), long term, such anomalies can be resolved. life expectancy and costs. Lit.4. RECOMMENDED PRACTICE Corrosion protection for wind turbines, DNVGL- However, it should be recognized that the • C oordinating leading standards and RP-0416 Edition March 2016 main problem when using only this approach, guidelines with each other so that they is that it will take many years before a occupy the same and above all unambiguous suitable coating can be selected. Therefore, it is important first to understand the failure mechanisms and recognize them in an early stage during natural exposure and accelerated testing. For example, cracking due to internal stress may lead to excessive coating failure and corrosion after only 2-5 years outdoor exposure. When conducting microscopical analysis and measuring mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and strain capacity, clear distinctions can be made between coating systems at an early stage during the testing. Coatings are very complex materials and when extremely high performance is required, a high level of experience and expertise is necessary. Looking beyond the existing standards and guidelines is essential Layer thickness 40 PES WIND
NSEGL-F2-0P0R0O0PXELLED INSTALLATION JACK-UP THE RIGHTWITH TELESCOPIC LEG CRANE CAPACITY AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT GustoMSC is a reputable design & engineering company of mobile offshore Come meet us at units and equipment. In close cooperation with our clients, we translate Global Offshore Wind! experience, science and technical knowledge into realistic & innovative ideas. London, – June In this way, GustoMSC enables and supports safe and efficient operations You will nd us at stand at sea, contributing to a sustainable future. www.gustomsc.com THE PIONEERS OF OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
THINK TANK Increasing sustainability through energy efficiency The offshore wind installation industry, is faced with the challenge of investing in next generation installation equipment, for the installation of wind turbines that are still on the drawing board. This brings a lot of uncertainties. What we know for sure is that in the past the growth rate of turbine size and weight consistently outpaced the predictions. As a consequence, the main challenge is striking the right balance: invest in a jack-up that can do all; you may be too expensive in the first few years to be competitive. Or, invest little and start off with a smaller jack-up; you may be out of business soon for not being able to handle the increasing size and weight of the future wind turbines. 42 PES WIND
THINK TANK Andries Hofman, Project Manager Offshore Wind GustoMSC GustoMSC has a strong position in the mix of competing requirements. Larger and heavier components typically requires a renewable business, and in particular in the heavier wind turbine components need to be bigger hull capacity. Installing heavier design of offshore wind installation jack-ups installed offshore at a greater altitude. components at a greater height, requires a and delivery of the key equipment to those more than linear increase in crane capacities. vessels, such as the jacking system and In comparison to today’s offshore wind main crane. GustoMSC explains how only turbines, we expect the primary A bigger crane requires a bigger supporting with proper balancing of requirements and dimensions, such as tower height and blade platform. A bigger jack-up requires a bigger smart innovations, the outward spiral of length to increase by roughly 50%, and we propulsion plant to be able to sail with decent increasing size, weight, carbon footprint and expect the mass of the components to transit speed. The bigger hull, with a bigger cost can be mitigated. increase by roughly 100% in a period of 5-10 crane and bigger propulsion plant, requires a years. The typical design lifetime of a more than proportional increase in GustoMSC’s role is to provide its clients with jack-up is 20-25 years. supporting structure, consisting of jacking well-balanced solutions, which must include system, legs and leg footings. Shortcutting robustness to deal with a reasonable, It is easy to see the direct link between wind corners on safety is unacceptable, so foreseeable future growth at an affordable turbine component sizes to be installed and logically we are seeing an increase in jacking rate, whilst striving to minimize the carbon the size of the equipment needed to install system legs and leg footings, to support the footprint. This brings together a challenging those components. Transport of larger and hull in a stable way and at a safe distance above the waves, whilst installing wind turbines. GustoMSC thinks a different approach is required to stop this spiralling trend; energy efficiency gains through technology improvements. Telescopic crane The telescopic crane developed by GustoMSC and invented to install future turbines, is a good example of a smart solution to break the combined chain of bigger, heavier and higher. The telescopic crane provides a very big lifting capability in retracted mode. This enables foundation installation, which needs a big lifting capacity at medium lifting heights. In retracted mode, the boom is sturdier, resulting in less sensitivity to the effects of waves during foundation installation through the splash zone. This allows for higher sea states and thus higher workability. It also provides medium lifting capability in extended mode. This enables turbine installation, which requires medium lifting capability at extreme lifting heights. By not necessarily combining the extreme lifting capacity with the very high heights, the crane can become lighter and the supporting platform smaller. In addition, the telescopic crane will be WWW.PESWIND.COM 43
THINK TANK retracted when transiting, without being Typical WTIV Power Profile graph of energy storage solutions. limited by motion induced loads, on an extended crane boom. This allows for a small challenging to make a convincing case to The typical wind turbine installation jack-up and light boom rest and higher transit sea demonstrate operational benefits and has a highly fluctuating power profile during states, which in turn allows for higher reduced carbon footprint. a typical turbine offshore installation workability. This retracted mode when However, recent technological campaign. Reduction of resistance during transiting also eliminates the risk of a crane advancement and commercial upscaling of transit conditions nowadays, often make boom, with a big overhang dipping into the promising solutions with associated the dynamic positioning power waves, when the jack-up is subject to wave benefits of scale have opened up the requirements the dominant driver for the induced motions. window of opportunity for implementation If such an event should occur, this would typically result in serious damage to the crane and crane foundation. This means that once again the higher sea states can be accommodated, resulting in less weather down time and thus higher utilization. Finally, the telescopic crane in retracted mode allows for easy manoeuvring in port, interfering less with other commercial traffic in the shipping lanes. Resistance optimization leading to lower power consumption Significant improvements have been made in recent years on hull resistance and the resistance of the leg footings protruding below the base of the hull. The pointed footings are still required to create a safe and stable platform when elevated above sea level, especially when considering the multitude of seabed types encountered during wind turbine installation. The seabed may range from dense sand to soft clay. It can be flat, sloped, with layered type of soils, hard thin crusts overlaying a soft soil type, with the risk for example of punching through. In recent years considerable progress has been made on basis of rigorous spudcan soil interaction analysis, consideration of the flow around the spudcan tips in transit condition, with the help of state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics and the potential to perform on-site continuous monitoring of the loads imposed by jack-up legs on the seabed. The optimized spudcan shape has resulted in significant reduction of transit resistance. Energy storage solutions Increasing size of wind turbine components, requires bigger installation jack-ups. The larger installation jack-ups require a significantly bigger propulsion plant for transit and dynamic positioning (DP) purposes, whereas the required power profile during idling, waiting for weather, loading in a harbour or even installing wind turbines on site has only moderately increased. Some years back, GustoMSC identified the potential to optimize the power generation, consumption and potentially benefit from temporary energy storage, with the aim of using the generated energy more efficiently. The typical energy storage solutions seemed relatively inefficient, or had a significant knock on effect on design and capex. It was 44 PES WIND
TALKING POINT required power. The high power demand substantially. Energy density is of utmost benefits of energy storage on a case by case during dynamic positioning lasts only for a importance to a weight sensitive product basis and only implements when the benefits relatively short period. The result is a highly such as a jack-up. can really be demonstrated. fluctuating power profile, which is ideally suited for implementation of temporary Even though the appetite and necessity to When the power requirements for leg handling energy storage. invest in more environmentally friendly during DP operations are well in excess of solutions have increased, the pressure to what is needed for transit purposes, batteries Energy storage solutions have significantly keep initial investment limited is still a direct can form an attractive solution. Typically, a matured technically. For the typical threat to large scale implementation of WTIV arrives on site after a transit period of application for wind turbine installation storage solutions. Therefore, the recent several hours with relatively predictable vessels (WTIV’s), battery-based storage capital reduction in the cost ($/kWh) of power consumption. During this period the solutions offer several benefits. In the last batteries, has been a welcome contribution batteries can be charged. Provided that a few years energy density (kWh/kg), and to further implementation of ‘green minimum filling rate can be guaranteed, and energy efficiency have increased technologies’. GustoMSC looks at the that the DP operations are time limited and relatively predictable; batteries can be an effective solution. Batteries can be installed to supply short- term extra peak power, instead of an extra generator set. Furthermore, instead of relying on spinning reserve, generators running on standby to guarantee that sufficient power is available to maintain position even during a generator failure, batteries can supply instant power to deal with this redundancy requirement. In addition, a battery on standby is not burning fuel or incurring ineffective running hours. So, in principle offers an effective, clean solution. Another application, which was identified some years back, but not deemed practically viable at that time, was feeding back energy to the batteries during operations in which energy needs to be dissipated, for example via resistor banks. So instead of dissipating energy, the advancement in battery technology has made it possible to effectively store and reuse that energy. This application can for example be considered for jacking down, lowering legs to the seabed, lowering the crane boom, lowering the hook, and so on. GustoMSC has developed an integrated solution, where the jacking system and crane are combined with a main vessel DC grid and battery packs. Proper integration, customized to the specific WTIV particulars and client operating profile are required to end up with a weight effective solution. This is essential to ensure a cost-effective jack-up solution with reduced engine running hours, the elimination of unnecessary energy dissipation and a reduced carbon footprint. GustoMSC is continuing to work on overall energy efficiency by improving technology. Smart energy storage solutions, optimizing weights and displacements, hull shapes and an increased emphasis on heat regeneration and a more efficient fluid and component process flow. These are all relevant developments in order to provide the customer with the best value, while contributing to a sustainable future. www.gustomsc.com WWW.PESWIND.COM 45
ASK THE EXPERTS: SHIPPING From small fishing port to international offshore wind hub The Port of Grenaa has grown from a small fishing port to an international hub, with the capacity and know-how to serve the offshore wind market. The pre-assembly facilities, the ease of access and experience, makes it the ideal port to access Denmark, Sweden and Northern Europe. Theis Gisselbæk, the CCO, gives PES an insight into its growth. Theis Gisselbæk 46 PES WIND
ASK THE EXPERTS: SHIPPING PES: Welcome to PES Wind magazine, it’s company, is now, after several mergers, part make sure our setup is always attractive and great to talk with you. It would be great if of the Vestas group. The Port of Grenaa also up to date. you could give us some background on the has a long tradition in handling onshore wind Port of Grenaa. components. In 2010 we had a breakthrough PES: Would you describe Grenaa as a base in the offshore market with the installation of and service port, if so, we would love to hear Theis Gisselbæk: The Port of Grenaa has a Anholt offshore wind farm, which was the about your experience in these areas. long history, and it celebrated its 200th largest offshore wind farm in Denmark at anniversary in 2013 at the same time as the that time. TG: The construction of the Anholt offshore installation of the Anholt offshore wind farm. wind farm in 2013 earned us national and In the early beginnings Port of Grenaa was PES: We know the offshore market is international recognition as a thoroughly primarily a fishing and ferry port. Over the expanding, how is this impacting on your proficient wind turbine port. This makes us years the port has broadened its work to business? one of Denmark’s leading industrial ports for especially bulk activities. wind turbine projects, with extensive TG: We follow the developments in the know-how as a base and service centre. The Our latest big port expansion was offshore wind industry closely. It is an port has the competences, the experience inaugurated in 2010. The planning of this intriguing development currently with the and the network connections necessary to development process started at the end of planning of new offshore wind farms in the deal professionally with this industry. the 90-ties. Kattegat, off the Danish east coast and at the Swedish west coast. More specifically we We had to deliver a custom designed The wind industry has always been a natural continuously keep up with the industry and pre-assembly area and the port has part of our portfolio. Nordtank, a local plan for ongoing investments at the port, to subsequently functioned as O&M service port. Ørsted is here with their base and service unit for the Anholt offshore wind farm, placed with direct access to the quay and their own crew boats. The Port of Grenaa shares know-how and experiences with important players within the wind industry – both nationally and globally. For instance, we have participated in projects in Taiwan, India, USA and Denmark. We have also supported other O&M campaigns for offshore wind farm projects. PES: Please could you tell us what facilities there are at the port to support the wind industry? TG: The Port of Grenaa offers excellent docking facilities, with an ample water depth of up to 11 metres and is prepared for 15 metres. We offer a dedicated jack-up area, with reinforced seabed, for installation vessels. The port’s layout is perfect for storing and preparing wind turbines. A large pre-assembly area, with direct access to the quay streamlines logistics and cuts time involved in a project. We offer a highly professional supply chain with a broad selection of dedicated and skilled businesses within the wind industry. We feel it is crucial to support our customers and have a highly specialized and flexible setup, which means we offer an efficient, high quality service. Navigation conditions within the port of Grenaa are very good. Vessels enter the port via the 0.7 sea mile shipping channel, with a depth of 12 metres, allowing efficient, safe passage for vessels of all sizes. Furthermore, and not least, the port has a range of modern equipment and we are able to undertake all types of work within loading and unloading. Highly functional material and solid teamwork are essential for efficient loading and unloading. Our two harbour mobile cranes have a lifting capacity of up to 140t and a twin-lift capacity up to 195t. As I have already said we have access to a wide range of equipment and WWW.PESWIND.COM 47
ASK THE EXPERTS: SHIPPING Blade moulds always try find the optimal solution for each Pre-assembly project, through close dialogue with our customers. PES: How important for you, as a port, are the pre-assembly facilities? TG: Today very few ports have the facilities and pre-assembly areas available for these types of projects. The competition has narrowed down in this area. We at the Port of Grenaa endlessly focus on maintaining and further developing the hinterland facilities as well as the pre-assembly area. Also, non-stop improvement of the infrastructure to and from the port is a very important issue for us. The activities within this core segment is very vital for both the port and the local area and local companies. PES: Please could you explain the importance to your customers of being a deep-water port? TG: The port should not only grow but should manage that growth by focussing on the unique strengths we have and use them effusively in our efforts to strengthen the Port of Grenaa’s position, as one of 48 PES WIND
ASK THE EXPERTS: SHIPPING Denmark’s biggest commercial and industrial Port of Grenaa pre-assembly the Port of Grenaa offers the flexibility needed ports. We already have a comfortable and allocates the investment readiness that is position in the top 10. because of the easy accessibility and partly necessary. The Port of Grenaa has a long because of the highly flexible setup and history of doing business with relevant Navigation conditions within the port of possibilities for further development. companies within the wind industry, for Grenaa are very good. Vessels enter the port PES: Why do and why should customers example Vestas, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind via the 0.7 sea mile shipping channel, with a choose your port, what makes it stand out and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. depth of 12 meters, allowing efficient, safe from the competition? passage for ships of all sizes. The outer part TG: The feedback from our business relations Presently we are planning the details for of the channel is 150 meters wide, and the and customers supports our thoughts that inner part 100 meters. The normal maximum ship length is 230 meters. The port’s swinging basin is 375 meters in diameter. Being a deep-water port gives our customers the necessary flexibility and provides fewer limitations when arriving at the port. We have prepared the water depth for an expansion to 15 meters. The development and planning for further expansion is an ongoing strategic focus area. We strive to grow along with the wind industry in general. PES: How is the design and size of offshore wind components changing, and what challenges does this present to the Port of Grenaa? TG: In our opinion, the development and upsizing of wind components is an advantage for the Port of Grenaa, since this narrows down the field of ports in the competitive market. Using us as a shipping port is a good supplement to production at a port. We still have a competitive advantage. Partly Port of Grenaa pre-assembly WWW.PESWIND.COM 49
ASK THE EXPERTS: SHIPPING further development. PES: How do you ensure you keep up with the constantly changing international safety standards? TG: We do so by constantly making sure that our organization is well educated and keeping up with new trends and standards. Furthermore, we participate in a wide range of network organizations related to the wind industry in order to exchange experiences and be in the loop with new regulations. We are members of the following associations: • Wind Denmark • Energy Innovation Cluster • WindEurope’s Ports Platform • DWP System Supplier PES: Where do you operate and where are your key markets, and are there any areas, geographically speaking, that you would like to break into? TG: The Decom tools project is an international collaboration between thirteen partners to develop eco-innovative concepts for handling offshore wind turbines that are at the end of their lifespan. Our focus, besides the Decom tools project, is primarily on pre-assembly or promoting the port as a hub facility. Prototyping: TetraSpar is a very interesting project with a lot of potential for the wind industry. This project will start up with further tests in Grenaa during 2019. Geographically we are not only looking into the Danish, Swedish and Baltic area but also Northern Europe in general. Transportation Pre-assembly PES: What is the biggest challenge facing the Port of Grenaa today? 50 PES WIND TG: We need to reach further out to achieve higher awareness of the many possibilities in Grenaa. In general, we visit relevant exhibitions and conferences and as well, we often receive groups and network organizations, which gives us the opportunity to show off the opportunities here. PES: We are now just past the middle of the year, how has 2019 been so far for you? TG: In 2018 the Port of Grenaa achieved the best profits in the history of the port. All core segments are in progress and we are positive about the activity level this year so far. In general, we are experiencing positive trends among our customers and the companies at the port. We have high expectations for 2019. www.port-of-grenaa.com
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