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www.offshorewindindustry.com · Issue 2014 · No. 02 · € 24
Wind industry
Connection
established
At times, connecting offshore wind
farms to the grid poses a real challenge.
However, technical solutions do exist,
and there are many manufacturers that
offer them.
Ports
Special economic
conditions
safety
ContraCting
Patient
stabilised
One-stop
solution
Innovative
marine and
offshore
solutions
Drilling and piling of large
diameter monopiles
Installation works with
jack-up platforms
Wind turbine erection
Accommodation units
Grouting activities
EPCI contracts
Offshore site investigation
Directional drilling
Jacket installation
(pre-piling / post-piling)
Foundation and wind turbine
maintenance and repair services
Foundation and wind
turbine logistics
Installation of
transition pieces
GeoSea nv
Haven 1025 – Scheldedijk 30
B-2070 Zwijndrecht, Belgium
T +32 3 250 53 12
F +32 3 250 55 41
info.geosea@deme-group.com
www.deme-group.com/geosea
member of the Deme Group
editorial
Looking across the borders
T
he days when each country could do its
not happen. Load fluctuations could be compensated
own thing in the offshore wind sector
for, wind energy generation in strong winds would not
are over. Due to the massive expansion
have to be throttled back and an integrated European
in European waters, the industry is becoming increas-
electricity market would stabilise the market prices for
ingly international. For example, individual countries
EU electricity.
do not always have a suitable port that can serve as a
The Kriegers Flak installation site is demonstrating
base for construction or maintenance work. An optimal
how things could work in the future. In the three-border
logistics chain knows no national boundaries, and this
region of the Baltic Sea between Germany, Denmark
has port locations around the North Sea chomping at
and Sweden, a number of wind farms belonging to dif-
their bits (see page 36).
ferent countries will be connected to each other as well
The flow of electricity is also oblivious to national
borders, so grid connections will have to be planned
as to several national power grids. An “offshore interconnector” will be created.
with a broader view towards Europe in the future.
Projects like this are a source of hope and reason
European interconnectors were a dominant theme
enough for OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY to take a
at the EWEA in Barcelona, and not just there. The
closer look at grid connections and cables.
European Elections that took place at the end of May
are also causing many people to see things through
European-tinted glasses again.
This is a good thing because the energy turnaround is not a German, British or otherwise national
topic. The energy turnaround needs to be addressed at
the European level. It makes no sense whatsoever to
build new gas-fired plants in the UK, while the same
types of plants are being shut down in Germany, due
to economic inefficiency. If the European electricity
Katharina Garus
grid across national boundaries were stronger, includ-
Editor
ing offshore energy, then absurdities such as this would
katharina.garus@sunwindenergy.com
3
Cover photos: TenneT (3), Siemens, Vattenfall, ABB
project update � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
news � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
imprint � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
6
8
9
interview
Daniel von Preyss, Impax Asset Management
The Director of the private equity infrastructure team
explains the reasons why some funds invest in offshore
wind farms and others do not � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14
spotlight cables
Connection established
At times, connecting offshore wind farms to the grid
poses a real challenge� However, technical solutions do
exist, and there are also many manufacturers that offer
them � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18
Photo: Siemens
Photo: Van Oord
Interconnection interrupted
Failing cables almost bring the whole operation to a
One-StOP SOlutIOn
Contracting
IS leSS MOre?
Converter technology
56
30
halt� Systematic investigations has helped to improve
the situation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22
Specialists are upgrading
There are countless cable ships� However, there are
not many ships for laying power cables� But the handpicked specialists are upgrading their fleets � � � � � � � �26
science & technology
Is less more?
The sheer size of the converter stations is proof for
the huge effort to transport electricity onshore�
Aren’t there more straightforward options? � � � � � � � � 30
4
offshore Wind industry 2|2013
Photo: bremenports
contents
SPeCIAl eCOnOMIC COnDItIOnS
Ports around the north Sea
36
Patient stabilised
At least 80 injured and four deaths have resulted from
the construction of offshore wind turbines in the North
Sea, but activities to create an unbroken rescue chain
lifts instead of cranes
have sped up considerably � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 48
Weather windows are a bottleneck� Installation vessels
with large capacity cranes are another� Both could
become unnecessary if a new installation method
catches on � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34
politics & business
At a glance
The construction of fail-safe information and
logistics & operations
communication technology in the middle of the sea
is pioneering work � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 52
Special economic conditions
The problems in Germany with offshore wind power
One-stop solution
have affected the ports of the German Bight� In con-
The Dutch offshore wind farm Gemini is about to
trast, at British ports the wind industry has already
reach financial close� Van Oord has joined the
taken on the role of economic powerhouse � � � � � � � � 36
€ 2�8 billion project as general contractor � � � � � � � � � 56
Socket out of service
events/dates � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
wab internal� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
outlook � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
The worldwide first high-voltage DC converter for an
offshore wind farm was out of operation for several
months � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 44
60
62
66
5
Mainstream Renewable
Power has kicked off Phase 2
of its floating Lidar campaign by deploying a floating
Lidar on Neart na Gaoithe.
The first turbines are
installed at Vattenfall s
DanTysk offshore wind farm.
alpha ventus surpassed the
mark of one terawatt hour of
generated power.
EDF Energy Renewables officially inaugurated Teesside.
The Marine Management
Organisation (MMO) has restricted night piling activities
at Westermost Rough. The
decision follows a number of
complaints from East Riding
residents about vibration
and noise.
The survey vessel RV
Neptune has started its work
on Gwynt y MÔr. Neptune
joins as an additional vessel
to assist in the survey work
that started earlier this year.
Meanwhile the installation of
all 160 foundations has been
completed.
Pre-Examination Phase of
Dogger Bank Teesside A&B
has started.
In early July, Van Oord will
start with the installation of
the 43 foundation piles for
Eneco Luchterduinen.
Offshore
Wind industry
6
Project update
The Danish Energy Agency
has prequalified Statoil,
E.ON, Vattenfall and Dong
Energy for the tender of
Horns Rev 3.
The work on the cable connection of EnBW Baltic 2
to the grid is progressing at
full speed. More than half of
the project s cables are now
lying on the seabed.
Avantha Group Company CG
has performed the marine
load-out of the high-voltage
offshore substation for
Butendiek. Meanwhile
Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) filed a complaint against the construction of Butendiek.
The transformer substation
for Amrumbank West has
been installed.
FoundOcean has completed
grouting operations at RWE
Federal Maritime and Hydro-
Innogy s Nordsee Ost.
graphic Agency of Germany
(BSH) has issued a construction and operating license for
OWP West.
The Gemini consortium
signed all construction,
operations and financing contracts with a total
construction budget of
nearly € 3 billion.
in operation
partially in operation
under construction
planned
7
This year, the Windforce Offshore Confer-
news
ence will be held together with the exhibition for the second time.
Windforce 2014 opens its doors
The three days in Bremen will be the most important days of the year for anyone
interested in offshore wind energy, according to Windforce Managing Director
Jens Eckhoff.
One of the central offshore wind
participants and 8,000 visitors.
In 2012, the organisers began
events of the year, the Windforce
Panel discussions, an excursion as
holding the Windforce Offshore
2014, will be taking place from 17
well as networking events, such
Conference in combination with
to 19 June.
as the Windforce Dinner and the
Germany’s only offshore exhibition
experts
Windforce Party, will round off
every second year in Bremen.
hold discussions in the conference
the programme. The patron of this
area of the Bremen exhibition
year’s event is Germany’s Federal
centre on topics such as markets,
Minister for Economic Affairs and
projects, environmental protection
Energy, Sigmar Gabriel.
international
and research, exhibitors will be
“Windforce 2014 will provide
presenting the entire value chain
information on the current factors
of the offshore wind industry in
driving the offshore industry, trends
the exhibition halls. Three hundred
and innovations as well as market
Opening hours Exhibition:
exhibitors are expected to attend,
developments,” says Jens Eckhoff,
June 17
including
plan-
Director of Offshore Wind Messe
9 a.m.
ners, operators, service and logis-
& Veranstaltungs GmbH. “We deli-
tics companies, research institutes,
berately chose topics for the con-
Opening hours Conference:
suppliers, and insurers.
ference programme that focus on
June 17:
developments in Europe,” he adds.
4 p.m.
manufacturers,
The organisers, Offshore Wind
8
Offshore
June 18
8 a.m.
The
Windenergie-Agentur WAB e.V., are
Conference
expecting around 800 conference
Bremerhaven for the last ten years.
Windforce
held
Messe & Veranstaltungs GmbH and
has
been
in
June 19, 2014:
6 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
June 19, 2014:
5 p.m.
Photo: Windforce
While
news
news
Offshore renewables in
bid for future talent
As part of its commitment to
of Norstec to gain insight and
public
experience
engagement,
renewables
industry
offshore
from
experts
and
alliance
student ambassadors from some of
Norstec is launching a new skills
the world’s leading offshore energy
pilot
and supply chain companies.
The Norstec Academy, fo-
cused on engaging and informing
Norstec Academy ambassadors,
the next generation of offshore
graduates and apprentices who
wind employees and creating a
work for Norstec signatory com-
community of positive advocates
panies, will also be taking part in
and future champions.
the carousel programme of events,
Participation in the pilot phase
which include site visits, tours and
of the Academy, due to commence
“meet the expert” talks. Ambas-
at the end of June, will initially be
sadors will explain the types of
through a competition. Student
activities they are engaged in and
entrants are being asked to submit
the opportunities open to them
entries about their interest in the
since joining the sector. Students
offshore renewables industry. Stu-
who are successful in the competi-
dents who submit the best entries
tion will become members of The
will win the opportunity to spend a
Norstec Academy and join the wider
week on an industry “carousel” pro-
community as part of the long term
gramme designed by signatories
focus of the initiative.
Siemens provides 150
turbines for Gemini
For Gemini offshore wind farm,
For Siemens this is the first
the largest Dutch offshore project,
order for an offshore wind power
Siemens will deliver 150 wind tur-
plant in Dutch waters. “With the
bines with a capacity of 4 MW and
project we are entering one of
a rotor diameter of 130 m each.
the
most
important
emerging
The wind power plant with an
offshore wind markets in Europe,”
installed capacity of 600 MW is to
said Markus Tacke, CEO of the
be located in the North Sea, 85 km
Wind Power Division of Siemens
above the coast of Groningen.
Energy.
imprint
Publishing company:
BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Richard Kaselowsky
Niederwall 53
33602 Bielefeld
Germany
Publisher:
Prof. Dr. Bernhard von Schubert
Publishing Manager:
Lutz Bandte
Editors:
Dr. Volker Buddensiek (responsible),
Katharina Garus,
E-mail: info@sunwindenergy.com
Freelance authors:
Jörn Iken, Detlef Koenemann, Torsten Thomas
Advertising:
Martin Haase
Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 90
E-mail: martin.haase@sunwindenergy.com
Yvonne Fedeler
Phone: +49/5 21/59 55 81
E-mail: yvonne.fedeler@sunwindenergy.com
Customer Service:
E-mail: service@sunwindenergy.com
Layout:
Bernd Schulte zur Wissen, Virginie Beclu
DSV Deutscher Sportverlag GmbH,
Cologne, Germany
Print:
Dierichs Druck + Media GmbH & Co. KG,
Frankfurter Str. 168
34121 Kassel
Germany
Translation:
Raymond Culp, Timothy Hanes, Übersetzungsbüro
Hartmann, Jeremy Heighway, Thomas Schickling,
Mark Wigfall
Website:
www.offshorewindindustry.com
OFFSHORE WIND INDuSTRY is an independent journal. Material in this publication may not be reproduced,
reprinted or stored in any form without the publisher s
written permission.
9
news
7, 000
6,890
north America
europe
Asia
farshore
farshore
farshore
nearshore nearshore nearshore
6, 000
5,282
5, 000
4, 000
3,663
3,139
3, 000
1,909
2, 000
78
0
2000
96
260
469
2002
630 720
200 4
2006
2008
Source: IWES
1, 000
1,282
1,133
816
2010
2012
The globally installed offshore wind power capacity has nearly reached 7 GW.
Offshore wind approaching
7 GW worldwide
In the new Wind Energy Report Germany 2013
2,000 MW under construction, the country is gaining
Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy
grounds in the offshore market.
System Technology (IWES) researchers confirm that
Offshore R&D activities in Japan resulted in the
offshore wind energy is increasing worldwide. While
installation of several prototypes including floating
the UK is leading with 50 % offshore market share,
2 MW offshore turbine installations. European manu
more than 2 GW are under construction in Germany.
facturers pushed the limits of offshore turbine dimen
Japan enters the offshore market with prototypes of
sions preparing for further growth of offshore wind
floating turbines.
energy worldwide. Prototypes with rotor diameters
The globally installed offshore wind capacity has
reached 6,900 MW, with 90 % of turbines being in
10
from 150 to 164 m and corresponding capacities of 6 to
8 MW have recently been installed.
stalled in European waters. The UK is pushing ahead
The Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and
with 776 MW capacity added in the large offshore
Energy System Technology has recently published
wind farms London Array, Lincs and Teesside which is
the “Wind Energy Report Germany 2013”. The report
half of the 1,600 MW added capacity in 2013. Germa
gives a comprehensive overview on wind energy devel
ny completed the installation of the wind farms Bard
opment in Germany and includes an update on global
Offshore 1 and Riffgat. With 620 MW installed and
offshore wind energy installations.
Photo: aerodyn
Hyosung installs 5 MW
prototype in Korea
A prototype of the aeroMaster 5.0
drivetrain concept. Designs that use this
offshore wind turbine, developed by
concept already exist for 1.5 and 2.5 MW
aerodyn Energiesysteme GmbH in Ger-
onshore turbines. A second prototype of
many, was installed in Korea at the end
the 5 MW system will be set up later this
of February. The Korean conglomerate
year by a Chinese manufacturer.
and manufacturer of wind turbines
The aeroMaster 5.0 is the third off
Hyosung Corporation set the system
shore system in the 5 MW class to be
up on Jeju Island south of the Korean
introduced by aerodyn. A fourth offshore
Peninsula.
design by aerodyn with 6 MW and an
The aeroMaster 5.0 has a rated power
integrated drivetrain (SCD) will also be
of 5 MW and a rotor diameter of 139 m. It
put into operation this year. According
has a modular drivetrain with a medium
to the German engineering company,
The prototype of the aeroMaster
voltage generator. The system was de
more than 10 % of the world’s installed
5.0 from the engineering company
veloped using the proven aeroMaster
turbines were designed by it.
aerodyn was installed in Korea.
Dong tests bucket foundation
Dong Energy is utilising technological innovations for
dustries, are used in the offshore wind sector. If this type
the construction of the offshore wind farm Borkum
of foundation turns out to be suitable, then it will lead to
Riffgrund 1. For the first time, the company is testing
a reduction in construction time and costs. In addition, the
a bucket foundation (jacket suction bucket), on top of
new technology allows quieter installation.
which it will be installing the 78th turbine.
The suction bucket jacket is also scheduled to be
The prototype of the foundation is a threelegged
installed later this year. Dong will be integrating a
jacket with bucket foundations that will be anchored to
measurement system in the foundation that will provide
the seabed using a suction technique. The installation will
valuable data. This data will also be made available to
be the first time jacket suction bucket foundations which
the participants of the British Offshore Wind Accelerator
have already proven their worth in the oil and gas in
Programme (OWA).
Harnessing
the wind
Bladt Industries is the market leading specialist
in complex steel solutions for the offshore wind
energy sector. We contribute with first class
steel structures, expert knowledge and essential
hands-on experience to wind energy projects all
over Europe.
Read more about Bladt Industries
11on
www.bladt.dk
news
The Gicon SOF will allow
installations in water depths
of up to 500 m.
on 1 July. Comprehensive technical
and environmental testing of the
model is scheduled to begin in the
middle of next year in the German
Baltic Sea near the offshore wind
farm Baltic 1.
The SOF can be completely as
sembled onshore, towed to the in
Funding
for floating
turbine
secured
stallation site together with the tur
bine and installed without the help
of additional installation vessels.
The stability of the foundation is
equivalent to that of a solid foun
dation, so there are no additional
mechanical requirements on the
turbine.
“For nearly two years, Gicon has
pursued the project goal of building
The Gicon Group is receiving a
many s first ever floating wind
and installing it in the Baltic Sea;
grant of approximately € 5.25
power plant is now on firm
we have done so at our own risk and
million for its floating offshore
financial footing. The total in-
with significant expenditure of our
foundation SOF from the Ger-
vestment volume for the SOF is
own resources. Funding has now
man federal state of Mecklen-
approximately € 18 million.
been approved, securing the project
burg-Vorpommern.
The
notifi-
ESG, which is a member of the
financially, which will allow us to
cation of the funding decision
Gicon Group, will begin construc
concentrate fully on the challenges
means that the manufacture,
tion work on an identical pilot plant
ahead,” Managing Director of Gicon
installation and testing of Ger-
at Volkswerft Stralsund shipyards
Jochen Großmann said.
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind launched
12
After approval by the European
ing, installation, commissioning
developed by Vestas and is already
Commission the offshore joint
and service related to the new
in use since 2013 in the Swedish
venture forged between Vestas
V1648.0 MW turbine as well as
48 MW project in Kaarenham.
and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
all marketing, sales and aftersales
The Board of Directors of MHI
(MHI) was launched.
service related to offshore wind. Ac
Vestas Offshore Wind consists of
The joint venture called MHI
cording to the new website of MHI
representatives from both compa
Vestas Offshore Wind is responsi
Vestas Offshore Wind, the joint ven
nies and is chaired by Masafumi
ble for the design, further develop
ture also offers the smaller Vestas
Wani,
ment, procurement, manufactur
V1123.3 MW turbine, which was
Heavy Industries Europe.
Chairman
of
Mitsubishi
Graphic: Gicon
a working model of the Gicon SOF
www.skylotec.com
news HIGH
France awards second
offshore wind tender
France has awarded its second
opment centre in Rouen is sup
offshore wind tender. The four
posed to be put into operation this
corporations
EDP
year. Between 2015 and 2017, the
Renewables, Neoen Marine und
GDF
Suez,
suppliers of foundations, electrical
Areva will work together to build
substations and installation and
offshore wind farms with a ca-
maintenance services for the wind
pacity of about 1,000 MW. The
farms will be selected.
start of construction is planned
for 2019.
PROTECTION
In 2018 the production of the
8 MW Areva turbines will start
The companies GDF Suez, EDP
in Le Havre. The construction of
Renewables, Neoen Marine and
the wind farms in both regions
Areva are planning to build and
is scheduled for one year later. In
operate offshore wind farms in the
2021 the wind farms are expected
area of Tréport in the Normandy
to be finished. The Tréport wind
(500 MW) and the Isles of Yeu and
farm will be operated and serviced
Noirmoutierat in the Loire region
by the ports of Dieppe and Tréport,
(500 MW). For the new projects,
while the offshore wind park of
two new companies in Rouen and
the Isles Yeu and Noirmoutier
Nantes were established. Local
will be handled from the ports of
partners will also take active part
l’Herbaudière and PortJoinville.
in the production and installation
of components for the wind farms.
The new firms “Les Eoliennes en
mer de DieppeLe Tréport“ and
“Les Eoliennes en mer de Vendée”
shall stimulate exchange and co
operation between the involved
parties. The projects will create
presumably 6,000 jobs in the area.
For the wind farms, the project
partners will use the new turbines
of Areva, with a capacity of 8 MW
each. The new research and devel
L e tré port
OFFSHORE MASTER
More safety in corrosive environment
Field approved.
All fittings in sea water proofed stainless
steel quality to ensure an even better offshore suitability.
S, M-L, XL - three different sizes
for perfect comfort.
KLJKJUDGHsalt spray tested.
n oirmoutier
13
“The problem is
the risks in the
construction phase“
Some closed-end investment funds have already invested large sums in a
range of offshore wind farms, others have not. Daniel von Preyss, Managing
Director of the Private Equity Infrastructure Team at Impax Asset Management Ltd in London explains the underlying reasons.
OWI: Mr von Preyss, what is
rights for developing wind or pho-
their managers interested in
the Impax business model?
tovoltaic farms, for example.
renewable energy?
Daniel von Preyss: Impax is
von Preyss: Infrastructure is
a company which specialises in
OWI: And who provides you
just a fixed asset. It doesn’t matter
green investments and manages
with the capital?
whether it’s a bridge, toll motor-
a total of € 3 billion. Almost € 2.5
von Preyss: Predominantly
way or power station. However,
billion of that is tied up in funds
pension funds that are looking for
these funds like to invest in renew-
which are invested exclusively in
long-term investments and want
able energy, if the funding condi-
listed companies around the world.
to support renewable energy. How
As far as private equity is con-
ever, investors also include insur-
cerned, we manage € 450 million in
ance companies and banks, such as
two additional funds which we in-
the European Investment Bank.
vest in renewable energy throughout Europe. In this segment, which
OWI: Thare are also large
I represent, we purchase project
infrastructure funds. Are
has worked for Babcock Brown, Deutsche Bank and Citigroup.
At Impax Asset Management Ltd. in London, the business school
graduate manages the private equity department.
14
offshore Wind Industry 2|2014
Photo: Torsten Thomas
Daniel von Preyss
Interview | Financing
Money is no object
The financial crisis is over and liquid assets are frothy again. Investments in
offshore wind farms are very popular with the banks and capital companies.
There were plenty of double-
tor, Northland Power, recently
Energy, has also managed to
takes at the latest financing
reported that ten international
hook a few prospective e
quity
workshop run in Bremen by
banks and export insurers want
capital investors. “We’re in
Mummert & Company. Not only
to invest € 1.1 billion. This
negotiations with stakeholders
did the crème de la crème of the
includes newcomers from Japan,
in Canada, Abu Dhabi and Japan.
banking scene declare an end
France, Spain and Canada.
Dong has its eye on investors
to the financial crisis, but they
The appetite of experienced
who want to purchase in at
also considered the financing of
banks is also growing. “The
least 50 % of a wind farm. It is
risk-laden offshore wind farms
financing of our first project
also conceivable that we will
to be a growing and lucrative
has since been fully recouped.
lower our equity ratio to 30 %,”
market. “The liquidity is there
We are partly financing two ad-
says Volker Malmen, Commer-
and offshore wind energy is
ditional wind farms,” says Nils
cial Managing Director of Dong
very attractive because of its
Driemeyer, Senior Vice President
Energy Renewables Germany.
steep learning curve. However,
for Renewable Energy at HSH
Goldman Sachs has also pro-
the outlay is considerable and
Nordbank.
vided Dong with fresh capital.
the monitoring is taking longer
This is based on the precon-
The American investment bank
than planned. It’s not yet priced
dition that government-owned
acquired 19 % of the Danish
in,” says Henrik Meyer, Renew
banks, such as KfW-IPEX, the
state-owned company at the
ables Director at Commerzbank.
European Investment Bank and
beginning of the year.
Bankers worrying about their
large credit insurers such as
margins, is a sign that the world
Euler Hermes are on board. This
est rates for invested capital,
of finance is in order.
will help make the situation less
shares in offshore wind farms
In light of meagre inter-
fraught for project companies.
glitter like gold. Anyone only
forward to new players. “Banks
“Instead of the current standard
prepared to take on low risks
with no previous experience are
credit lines of € 50 million, they
can count on returns on their
getting involved in financing,”
will start to range from € 75 to
equity capital of 7 % to 9 %. But
says Dirk Mous, Director for
€ 125 million, and the number
the returns are based on when
Infrastructure and Renewables
of banks involved will therefore
you get involved. “If investors
at the Dutch bank NIBC. Mous
decrease,” says Gernot Blanke, a
come on board during the finan-
has his sights on the 600 MW
shareholder of wpd AG.
cial close, returns can be as high
The offshore sector can look
Dutch Gemini project, for example. Its Canadian majority inves-
The largest global offshore
wind farm operator, Dong
as 10 % to 14 %,” says Blanke.
Torsten Thomas
15
InTErvIEw | Financing
tions are stable. But a conventional
von Preyss: Yes, of that I’m
von Preyss: Many British ports
infrastructure fund is not set up to
certain. Many pension and
are already owned by infrastruc-
deal with development or construc-
infrastructure funds are looking
ture funds. They’re naturally
tion risks. The managers prefer to
for big projects. In essence, it’s
interested in developing their busi-
purchase a turnkey wind farm.
very simple. Funds which have to
nesses, and pension funds are look-
continue to invest money naturally
ing for investment opportunities.
OWI: Could that be the reason
want to do so in the most efficient
When this potential can be tapped,
why funds haven’t embraced
manner possible. We’re not talking
it is definitely appealing.
offshore wind energy?
small sums here, more like € 150
von Preyss: There are some
to € 500 million. On this scale,
OWI: Are infrastructure and
financial investors, such as
various pension funds are involved
pension funds primarily
Blackstone, which have invested
in the offshore wind farms of Dong
concerned with security and
in offshore wind farms. But the
Energy.
acceptable returns?
von Preyss: Yes, you could put it
projects are very large in terms of
their funding volume. We have to
OWI: One speciality of the
like that. It’s also a matter of hard
diversify, and can’t put all of our
British market is that op
assets such as wharves or build-
eggs in one basket. Impax could
erators install their own grid
ings which offer investors a certain
perhaps invest € 50 million in an
connections. These then have
level of security.
offshore project, but then we would
to be resold, because the libe
be just a minority stakeholder. Our
ralisation of the energy mar
OWI: Do you believe the fund
prerequisite for investments is that
ket requires the separation of
managers will start to show
we have control.
production and transmission.
more interest in offshore
von Preyss: That’s a very good
wind farms and project fi
OWI: Hasn’t the financial
deal considering it is ultimately a
nancing in coming years?
crisis made it desirable to
regulated monopoly. That’s why
von Preyss: Financing is natu-
invest in large offshore wind
many capital companies want to be
rally heavily driven by the risk
projects?
involved.
assessments of banks. German
von Preyss: You’ll have to ask the
16
banks are very happy to offer
investors themselves. But Canadian
OWI: Is there more interest
financing based on the guaranteed
pension funds in particular are
in this than in a wind farm
feed-in rates. However, project
quite happy to invest hundreds
connected to the substation?
financing is not an option if the
of millions. That would be a good
von Preyss: Yes. On the one hand,
market risks are very high. For
match in terms of volume. They
the investment volume is smaller
example, if operators have to
are active in the UK, for instance,
and thus appealing to more compa-
sell their own green certificates
and are interested in turnkey
nies. On the other, there are fewer
because subsised periods are too
projects. The bigger problem is,
risks. That’s why demand and
short or when technical risks crop
who bears the risks during the
competition for operating the grid
up. It is up to the industry so
construction phase.
connections is very high.
resolve these issues.
OWI: In other words, interest
OWI: And what does the port
increases when the offshore
infrastructure scene look
wind farm actually exists?
like?
The interview was conducted by
Torsten Thomas.
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InTErvIEw | Financing
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spotlight Cables | Market overview
the subsea cable
is properly lined
up on carousel.
Connection
established
at times, connecting offshore wind farms to the grid
poses a real challenge. However, technical solutions do
exist, and there are many manufacturers that offer them.
t
18
he German offshore wind
A solution for every problem
farm Riffgat is connec-
AC export cables have three cores. Each individual core
ted to the grid. Finally
consists of the actual copper or aluminium conductor,
even though this may
the inner and outer conductive layers for controlling
not sound so spectacular,
the fields as well as high-voltage insulation made out
it was quite a hard task. Connecting the 30 wind tur-
of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). A fibre optic cable
bines to the grid 15 km off the coast had become a real
is integrated in the submarine cable for data transfer
obstacle. The wind turbines were already operational
of measurement and control signals. The cable core is
and ready to go last summer, the power line was not.
wrapped in galvanised steel wire to protect it against
The main problem was old munitions that were
mechanical damage. The undersea cables will be
located along the cable route. “It was the first time that
calculated and adjusted individually for each connec-
a cable had been laid in such close proximity to a muni-
tion. They have a diameter of up to 25 cm and weigh
tions disposal site in the North Sea,” says Alexandra
approximately 100 kg/m.
Bangemann, Project Manager for Riffgat at nkt cables.
If the distances to the coast are greater, as in the
They were in charge of implementing the grid link to
case of the German cluster connections, then the losses
Riffgat on behalf of TenneT. The project included project
become too great if the electricity is transported as AC
management, technical planning, production as well as
current. In these cases, a high-voltage direct current
complete installation of 51 km of 155 kV export cable.
(HVDC) connection is necessary. Prysmian recently
Photo: tennet
spotlight
landed a rather large ‘fish’ using a 159 km ‘fishing line’.
the internal cabling. The situation will be different in the
The deal will bring € 250 million into the coffers of the
future if floating wind turbines need to be connected.
cable manufacturer. The reference is to the grid con-
“The cables will have to be flexible. This is a whole new
nection of the converter platform BorWin gamma. The
challenge,” Norman says. Up till now, cables have been
project involves delivery, installation and the commis-
designed for a service life of 25 to 30 years
sion of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) 320 kV ex-
applications. With floating structures, the cables hang
truded submarine and land power bi-pole connection,
flexibly in the water and are constantly in motion.
in static
rated at 900 MW and the associated fibre optic cable
The experts at JDR see the greatest potential for
system, comprising a 29 km land route as well as an
development in insulation of undersea cables and higher
undersea route of 130 km.
voltage. “We have 33 kV cables down pat. The rest needs
However, before the wind energy can be transported
to be researched,” Norman says. The cable insulation can
to shore with an export cable, it has to be collected from
certainly be improved in terms of impermeability, in
the individual wind turbines via the internal cabling
particular in view of the higher voltage. The higher the
of the wind farm. According to Andrew Norman, CEO
voltage in the cable is, the higher the water permeability
of JDR Cable Systems, cabling offshore wind farms is
of the insulation becomes, Norman explains. This is a
generally not such a large technical challenge. At least
problem that the oil and gas industries have never had to
this is the case with conventional systems like the wind
deal with and it presents new challenges, even for com-
farms Greater Gabbard and London Array, where JDR did
panies that have plenty of experience in these areas.
19
How deep is
deep enough?
Plenty of experience
The grid operator TenneT recently completed a
The amount of cable installed in a single offshore
research project that looked at the depths needed
wind farm is enormous. Nexans supplied 140 km of
to lay offshore cables. The goal of the study was
34 kV cable just for the cabling within the Gode Wind
to find out how deep the anchors dig into the
1 and 2 wind farms, for example. And that is just part
seabed of the North Sea. They were looking to draw
of a framework contract between Dong Energy and
conclusions about the necessary depth for laying
Nexans, in which a total of 900 km of cable for con-
undersea cables to eliminate the risk of the cable
necting offshore wind turbines in various projects is
being damaged during anchoring.
The experiments showed that the anchors
included.
Dirk Steinbrink, Executive Vice President of High
penetrate to a maximum of 0.8 m in the types of
Voltage & Underwater Cables at Nexans, commented:
seabed typical for German North Sea regions. To
“We are delighted that Dong Energy values the qual-
avoid any risk in the future, the Federal Waterways
ity of our products as well as our more than 40 years
and Shipping Administration will set the reference
of experience with offshore cables. As the supplier for
value for coverage of sea cables to 1.5 m in traffic
these offshore projects, we are happy that we can do
separation zones as well as the rest of the exclusive
our part to promote the energy turnaround.”
economic areas.
In terms of experience, ABB is on par with Nexans.
The previous depth requirements for laying
The Swedish company has manufactured XLPE cables
cables resulted from safety values that had been
since the late 1960s and has delivered more than
determined in a general manner. The value for
3,000 m of polymeric insulated submarine cables. ABB
traffic separation zones, for example, had been 3 m.
performed its first submarine installation in 1953, and
The seabed conditions along the cable routes often
in 1973 the company connected the Finnish island of
made it technically difficult to bury the cables at the
Åland to the Swedish mainland using three 55 km long
required depth.
XLPE cables rated at 84 kV. In the areas of export cables
as well as cabling within wind farms, the company’s
list of offshore wind references is long and
(NSW), which belongs to General Cable. The former
includes projects throughout European
has an impressive track record of supplying public
waters, such as Humber Gateway in
utilities and the industry with cables and accessories
the UK, Thornton Bank, DolWin and
for low, medium and high voltage up to 550 kV for
Lillgrund.
more than 130 years. NSW’s submarine power cables
The list of major manufactur-
are designed for various medium and high voltage
ers also includes nkt cables as well
applications, such as offshore wind farms, the oil and
as
gas industry, island connections, static tidal and wave
Norddeutsche
Seekabelwerke
NSW’s experienced project implementation team offers installation capabilities to meet even the most
three copper cores, a fibre optic
challenging requirements of interconnection, export
cable and plenty of insulation and
and infield sea cable projects. And the offshore wind
reinforcement
these are the main
components of an undersea cable.
energy industry has many such challenges to solve, as
the example of Riffgat shows.
Katharina Garus
20
offshore
Wind industry 2|2014
Photo: Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke
power applications, as well as lake and river crossings.
Interconnection
interrupted
Photo: General Cable
In early 2011, cables, mostly in
British offshore wind farms,
were cause for alarm.
Otherwise an almost ignored component, the
failing cables nearly
brought the whole
operation to a halt.
Systematic investigations
have
helped improve the
situation.
22
Spotlight CableS | DamaGe
C
ables that had
with a single instance of cable dam-
only just been
age receiving up to € 2.5 million,
laid were already
that premium can disappear quite
damaged. The news portal ingenieur.
quickly,” he explains.
de, usually rather brief in its reporting, dedicated almost two pages to
dangerous anchors
the cable damage in UK wind farms.
At the time, engineers employed by
The internal cabling connecting the
the operators, the installation com-
individual turbines to each other
panies and, of course, experts from
was hit the hardest. According to
the insurance companies attempted
Nick Medic, then Communications
to find out the root causes. “Most
Manager of the British wind energy
cases were discovered during start-
association RenewableUK, cable
up,” Medic explained to ingenieur.
damage amounted to 80 % of
de. “This means that the damage had
the total number of insurance
occurred in the installation phase.”
claims in the offshore farms.
These findings made the causes
Three years later, the situ-
more or less clear. Damage to the
ation has significantly im-
inter-array cabling could be sepa-
proved.
rated into two categories: external
Ralf Skowronnek, head
impact and internal fundamental
of the renewable energy
errors. In the first category, the legs
team at insurance broker
of the jack-up platform destroyed
Marsh, is familiar with
the cables when they accidentally
the debate about inter-
propped up their legs on the cable
array
however,
trench. Commercial and leisure
cables,
and points out, “In 2011,
vessels also represented a risk to
there were just a few farms
the cabling. Although navigating
in the North Sea, and they
through the offshore farms is for-
were smaller sites in the
bidden, this is difficult to enforce
UK, Denmark and Benelux.”
on the high seas. Moreover, an an-
In other words, the data from
chor cast from a vessel to prevent
that period are very limited, and
drifting can also result in damage.
the premiums for each wind farm
At the Sheringham Shoal offshore
were lower because of the smaller
wind farm, for instance, the cable
farm sizes. These factors should be
was lowered only 0.5 m into the
considered before we become too
seabed in some places too shallow
shocked about that 80 % share of
to be safe from anchors.
damages.
Over the last few years, signifi-
However, he does not deny that
cant technical improvements have
cable damage was an issue for insur-
been made. Vessels at construction
ance companies. “If we consider an
sites now use GPS technology to
insurance premium of € 25 million
navigate within a few meters of their
23
planned path. Satellite navigation
the subsea entry point, the Peflex
Luckily, these procedures can be
also allows independent and stable
locks into place and is clamped and
improved. In a presentation at the
vessel positioning so that virtually
fastened into place with Inconel
Offshore Cabling convention, Tom
no anchor space is needed. DP2 (dy-
strapping and banding. The system
Schmitz, Director of Project Sup-
namic positioning) vessels stay at
can be assembled without divers
port Engineering at Norddeutsche
their programmed position using
and ROVs, resulting in significantly
Seekabelwerke (NSW), made some
only their propulsion systems and
lower costs.
suggestions: “The procedure of
detecting errors
and trenching. Suitable cable pro-
a result, one of the main causes of
The second damage category is
tection needs to be added immedi-
damage has been eliminated.
harder to analyse. One cause can
ately after the cable is laid, and the
without needing to cast anchor. As
24
The plastics industry has also
be the technology used to lay the
whole procedure should be moni-
become involved in the issue. Con-
cable. In principle, the laying proce-
tored in real time using a monitor-
ventional cable protection systems
dure in the sediment is always the
ing system with documentation of
can be adapted for offshore use
same. First, a tool that is not unlike
cable position and laying depth.”
with little effort. E.on equipped its
a plough tears up the seabed, then
A transportable measuring system
Humber Gateway offshore farm with
the cable is laid and the trench is
could be helpful in this phase, but it
a Peflex cable protection system
backfilled. A possible source of mis-
would be especially useful for detect-
for both the inter-array cabling
takes could be that the cable trench
ing the extent, location and, if possible,
and the export cable. Peflex was
is covered with fluid material. Un-
cause of any damage that may occur.
designed by Pipeline Engineering.
favourable sea currents could flush
Wirescan of Norway is one company
According to the company, a cable
the cable out of the trench, leaving it
working in this area. Their patented
protected in this way withstands
without protection. It would then be
LIRA technology is a non-destructive
loads from the swell and from tur-
easy prey for fishing vessels using
testing method which does not com-
bulence caused by ocean currents.
bottom drag nets or moored leisure
promise the cable or other equipment.
It is designed with a series of in-
vessels. If things go wrong, funda-
LIRA (LIne Resonance Analysis) is
terlocking polyurethane vertebrae
mental errors like this one can gen-
based on the transmission line theory,
half sections that are interspersed
erate enormous costs of up to two
using the estimation and analysis of
with elastomeric sleeves. Used with
million euros per day for a 400 MW
the complex line impedance as a func-
J-tube and J-tubeless connections at
farm.
tion of the applied signal frequency.
Photo: TenneT
choice should be concurrent laying
are then moored in large empty areas
heavyweight: the sea cable of the alpha ventus wind park,
for example, measures only 18 cm in diameter but weighs
about 53 kg/m.
The LIRA Portable detects changes in
physical impacts. Author Maryruth
Even if, at first, the term seems a
the impedance of the cable insulation.
Belsey Priebe therefore states in an
bit strange in this case, the benefits
These changes are caused by physical
essay, “So given the reality that no
of such a system quickly become
impacts on the cable, water infiltra-
solution is perfect, other compa-
clear. As always when applied to
tion and overheating.
nies are looking to develop smarter
technical systems, the term “smart”
cable technology that can make the
here mainly refers to communica-
Longer service
life
inevitable failure and maintenance
tions. An intelligent cable consists of
requirements for cables much sim-
unconventional hardware combined
Improved cable protection is only
pler and more cost-effective.”
with sensors and monitoring units.
one of two solutions to enhance the
A cable is actually low-tech, and
Intelligent cables make it possible to
service life of inter-array cabling.
a conventional cable on its own is
continuously monitor the cable and
The other strategy is based on the
not particularly equipped to lo-
display fault locations. The most
insight that so far no cable on the
calise or pinpoint the cause of an
important feature is the ability to
market can guarantee a hundred
error. “Smart cable technology is the
link this information to an Internet-
per cent protection against major
answer,” Belsey Priebe concludes.
based evaluation.
Jörn Iken
Expertise in Subsea Cable
Installation
Repair
Maintenance
Survey
References: Gwynt y Môr OWF, West of Duddon Sands OWF, London Array OWF, Greater Gabbard OWF, Walney OWF, Lincs OWF, Horns Rev OWF, Gunfleet Sands OWF
when it comes to connecting windpower offshore
www.ctoffshore.dk
Specialists
are upgrading
t
26
he laying of cables across
form a handpicked and sought-after group amongst
the oceans is a pretty vola-
cable laying companies with regard to offshore
tile market. The boom,
wind projects.
which started in 2000,
Compared to telecommunication cables, there are
was followed by a longer
no more than 10 companies in Europe which can lay
downturn. Today, the industry is booming again
power cables which are as thick as an arm. And the old
and is investing in new capacities. This applies, in
acquaintances regularly meet at the European offshore
particular, to specialists for power cables, which
wind projects with their urgently needed special equip-
Photo: ABB
There are countless cable ships. However, there are not many
ships for laying power cables. But the handpicked specialists
are slowly upgrading their fleets some are converting older
ships, others are more into new builds. The cable manufacturers
are also bringing themselves into play as turnkey providers.
Spotlight CableS | SHiPS
the aMC Connector
now called lewek Connector
is one of the largest cable laying ships in the world.
one of the key tasks when building offshore wind farms.
Know-how in the joint
venture
And not just anyone is tasked with this: “It is a very
Blue Offshore Marine Services has just built one of
small and very special market. Currently, there is great
these opulent cable feeders with unwinding function.
demand for ship capacity and equipment. But this cannot
The carousel has a diameter of 18 m and holds a total of
be easily conjured up, as all cable layers are very busy,”
2,200 t undersea cable. The steel construction will adorn
says Matthias Mroß, Shipbuilding Engineer and CEO of
the barge Stemat 91 of Stemat B.V. The Dutch company
the German Renewables Shipbrokers, with a look at the
is supporting Visser & Smit Marine Contracting (VSMC)
current situation.
in laying the export cable for the Nordergründe project
ment. After all, the transport and laying of cables are
The ships are special for several reasons at once. On
in the German North Sea. Business for VSMC is boom-
the one hand, they need a modern DP2 system for precise
ing in general, and in April they were also awarded
work in the ocean. This dynamic positioning automatically
the contract for the export cable of the Dutch project
keeps the ships in the correct position. On the other hand,
Luchterduinen.
deck space and tonnage aplenty is needed for the equip-
VSMC is a 50/50 joint venture between VolkerWessels
ment. This applies to special tools like tranchers, which
Stevin and Royal Boskalis. Both companies see large po-
automatically travel across the seabed and jet the cables
tential, and their cooperation has pooled their know-how
with jet nozzles, or ROVs for checking the laying work.
and special equipment to achieve a larger market posi-
The cables themselves are another factor. “They are
tion. Both companies have already worked together for
especially produced for each project and reeled onto a
cabling within the wind farm of Meerwind and Nordsee
cable carousel depending on manufacturer’s specifi-
Ost in Germany and for two projects in the UK. Thanks
cations. Depending on the lengths, the carousels can
to this cooperation, VSMC has two DP2 cable layers with
have quite a large diameter and must fit onto the deck,”
the Stemat Spirit and the Ndurance with a turntable
says Mroß.
capacity of 5,000 t each. Five further special ships are
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the cable layer topaz installer was used amongst others for the Sheringham Shoal offshore Wind Farm.
added to this for the cable business. So they are well
cable laying, the DP2 multi-purpose vessel had still to
equipped.
be converted to become a cable layer and it had to be
But the competition is also at work. Some players, for
widened to 25 m for the cable carousel to fit. SeaREX is
example the Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke (NSW), have
responsible for jetting. The self-propelled undersea tool
begun to charter suitable ships on a long-term basis
with a capacity of 1,600 kW is one of the most powerful
and to convert them for cable laying. The subsidiary
tranchers worldwide. The investment has already paid
of General Cable not only manufactures connections
off, as NSW is producing and laying the export cable
for cabling within offshore wind farms, but also offers
for the Baltic Sea wind farm Baltic 2 as turnkey pro-
laying them. For the Global Tech 1 wind farm, NSW
vider. The order from the 50Hertz Transmission GmbH
has worked together with Global Marine Systems Ltd.
amounts to € 195 million.
(GMSL). The equipment, including the cable layers
The Prysmian Group also has the turnkey keyword
CS Sovereign and Cable Innovator, came from the UK.
on its agenda. The cable manufacturer had already
The cables were jetted with a self-propelled underwater
bought the GMSL subsidiary Global Marine Systems
vehicle. The Excalibur trencher might be a little older,
Energy Limited for € 53 million at the end of 2012. One
but it still lives up to its name with a capacity of 900 kW
of the acquired ships is now being converted to a modern
and a jetting depth of 3 m.
cable layer. For this purpose, the Cable Enterprise is
28
Keyword turnkey
a DP2 ship with a range of extras. In addition to new
NSW also wants to prove itself as turnkey provider with
accommodation and a large deck, the equipment in-
its own equipment. For this purpose, the cable manufac-
cludes a new cable tank for the laying of HVDC cables.
turer has already invested almost € 20 million into the
“The Prysmian Group has been aiming at expending its
barge Nostag 10 in 2009, which is also suited to work in
ability to offer turnkey products and services to the off-
the mudflat due to its low draught. The ship is operated
shore wind farm’s growing market for some time and
by NSW together with the Schramm Group and the civil
now it is investing again in this field,” Marcello Del
engineering company Tagu.
Brenna, CEO of Prysmian Powerlink states with regard
In order to also be equipped for the open sea, NSW
to the new line of approach. He also has more control
has dipped into the coffers once again and chartered
over the supply chain in mind, and a larger share in the
the M/V Aura with a long-term charter contract. For
installation business.
Photo: RohOs3
now being converted from a moored cable barge to
Spotlight CableS | SHiPS
new building instead
of conversion
15 new ships to increase the fleet of special ships to 50
He will need to share this with other entities, who have
has landed a very big fish. The RWE AG commissioned
already gained merit in the field. Instead of relying on a
the company to lay the cabling within the wind farm for
conversion, the Dutch hydraulic engineering tycoon Van
Nordsee One. The project is one of three sections with
Oord has ordered a completely new cable layer, which is
almost 1,000 MW. So a lot of work for the contractors.
vessels. One ship will be a brand new cable layer, as Siem
being built on a Romanian shipyard of Damen Shipyards.
“We have our own cable layers and have already
And there is no lack in comfort with regard to laying. With
been involved in offshore wind projects, but this is the
a length of 120 m, the ship has a deck capacity of 8,500 t
largest order for us so far”, says Muck. He is probably
and the cable carousel carries no less than 5,500 t, which
also waiting for the cable manufacturer with anticipa-
means there is sufficient undersea cable on board.
tion. “The cables of some manufacturers can be bolted
Lars Muck also does not think much of conversions:
into a special tank, of others they must be reeled onto a
“Of course you can do it, but it is not great,” says the
carousel. This depends on the torsional strain, as other-
General Manager of Siem Offshore Contractors. The ma-
wise the armouring will tear”.
rine offshore service provider is in the process of building
Wind energy services
Highest expertise for your success
Type certification
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TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH · Wind Cert Services · E-mail: windenergy@tuev-sued.de · www.tuev-sued.de/windenergy
Torsten Thomas
Science & technology | ConverTinG
is less more?
The BorWin beta converter station was installed in the German Bight
at the end of April. The sheer size of the structure is proof for the
huge effort and expense required to transport electricity onshore.
Aren t there more straightforward options?
this long stretch from the generator
raises the question of whether elec-
developed based
to the grid. It is initially rectified to
tricity transport actually needs to be
quite so complicated.
on onshore wind
DC, inverted to AC and stepped up to
energy. As a result, the perfect fix for
33 kV, all of which happens directly
many issues has not yet been found;
in the wind turbine.
producing electricity out at sea often
30
The
electricity
then
flows
step-by-step
changes
has different requirements than on
through the AC wind farm grid to
Quite simply, generating electricity
land. This becomes especially ap-
the transformer substation, which
far out at sea is something complete-
parent if we take a close look at grid
transfers the now 155 kV power to
ly new and we cannot change every-
connections for wind farms located
the converter station to be turned
thing at the same time. The first off-
far from shore. From the BorWin
into 320 kV DC. The power then
shore wind farms were erected near
beta converter station, which was
flows through the subsea cable to
shore and it seemed advisable to use
installed in the German Bight in late
the shore, where it is converted again
the power transmission technology
April, the distance to shore is 125 km,
into AC at the second converter sta-
that had been tried and tested on-
and the Diele converter station is an-
tion and sent to the high-voltage
shore. The wind turbines send their
other 75 km onshore. The electric-
grid. The fact that each conversion
power to an AC grid and therefore
ity is converted several times over
is costly and results in some losses
need a converter so that they supply
Photo: Siemens
o
ffshore wind was
science &
technology
“clean three-phase current” just as
onshore wind turbines do.
The principle has proved its
worth, and now wind farms are still
being built in the Baltic Sea and
around the British Isles that transport their power to the shore at high
the six jack-up legs of the
voltage (132 or 150 kV) using HVAC
BorWin beta converter
cables. These wind farms are invari-
station are lowered at
ably located near shore.
the site, jacking up the
2013-01-30_windenergie_172x120mm.qxp
However, the large offshore
structure above the water.
wind farms of the future will be situ-
to its right is the BorWin
ated more than 80 km off the coast,
alpha converter station
and the German Bight is currently
installed in 2009.
serving as the testing grounds to
04.02.2013
16:35
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Converter station
offshore
Converter station
onshore
Transformer
substation
Sea cable
High-voltage grid
Land cable
the diagram shows a grid connection for offshore wind farms that are more than 80 km away from the
supply point onshore.
find out what this will mean for
However, power is the product
cesses reaches such high levels in
electricity transmission. “Usually,
of electricity and voltage. Maxi-
a very long cable with strong AC
AC is still possible for cable lengths
mum power is only reached when
power that electricity transport is no
of less than 80 km, but at that point
electricity and voltage are simul-
longer worth it. The only solution
the break-even is reached,” explains
taneously at a maximum
then is DC transmission.
Dietmar Retzmann, Director of Tech-
when the phase shift is zero. As
nical Marketing and Innovations
soon as a significant capacity is
(HVDC) transmission requires just
HVDC at Siemens. If the cable is any
involved, power and voltage are
two transport cables instead of
longer, DC is the better solution.
displaced from each other. The
three. Moreover, you can lay one
larger the capacitor, the stronger
cable with +320 kV and the other
the phase shift and the smaller the
with -320 kV potential so that a po-
active power.
tential difference of 640 kV can be
direct
current
Every conductor that AC passes
The power splits up into usable
used. A current of “only” 1,250 am-
through has not only ohmic resist-
active power and apparent power,
peres is thereby sufficient to trans-
ance but also capacitive reactance,
which does not perform work but is
port 800 MW. Lower amperage leads
because it acts as a capacitor. This,
only the product of reactive power
to lower ohmic losses.
however, only makes itself felt when
and voltage. “The cable acts as a
However, this also means that
the cable is a certain length.
large capacitor that needs so much
the frequency converter found in
As an example, each of the three
reactive power that, at the end of
every turbine is redundant. A trans-
copper wire bundles in an HVAC
transmission, hardly any electric-
former would potentially no longer
subsea cable has a cross section of
ity is left,” Retzmann explains. The
be required. In theory, it would be
1,600 mm2. For a length of 80 km,
same is true for the conductor’s
sufficient just to rectify the power
this results in a volume of 128 m ,
inductance, since every vibration
produced by the wind turbine’s AC
which is filled with charge carriers
causes a magnetic field to form and
generator and send it to the offshore
like a large capacitor as soon as the
then disappear. This is another cause
converter station.
electricity passes from A to B.
of phase displacement.
3
While the electricity alternates
This, however, is easier said
than done, since wind farm grids
can stretch out several kilometres.
ond, the capacitor is therefore con-
dC transmission
for long distances
tinuously charged and discharged.
A portion of the energy that is to
small current with high voltage
its direction several times per sec-
32
High-voltage
In order to limit losses, a relatively
No work is being done at this point,
be transported is only stored in the
(24 to 36 kV, depending on the sys-
but electricity and voltage no longer
conductor and does not reach the
tem) flows through the grid, as with
fluctuate in phase; instead, the
other end. It is easy to understand
wind farm grids onshore. However,
phases are slightly displaced from
that the apparent power resulting
the relatively small generator inside
each other.
from capacitive and inductive pro-
the wind turbine cannot generate
Graphic: TenneT
Cable as a
capacitor
that is,
Science & technology | ConverTinG
this voltage, so the generator volt-
standards. Before the next step to-
into the wind farm’s AC grid. This
age needs to be stepped up to the
wards a DC system is possible, DC
could be the first step.
desired medium voltage instead. A
technology needs to be integrated
Perhaps one day, wind farm grids
transformer substation is therefore
into the AC world. Right now, HVDC
will be designed as DC grids. An off-
still necessary.
transmission is “jammed” between
shore DC system would mean that
two AC grids.
wind turbines would be designed
norms and
standards only
for AC grids
There really aren’t any easier so-
and certified in accordance with
lutions? In fact, there are, but con-
standards that do not yet exist to-
verter stations certainly won’t be
day. Protection technology for such
The reason why things are not
getting any smaller. There is only
a DC grid would also need to be de-
simpler is that the grids are speci-
one thing that could be simplified
veloped. Work is already underway
fied to AC out at sea, just as they
electricity transport from the wind
here, but it will take some time. For
are onshore. Norms and standards
turbine to the converter station.
now, we have no choice but to con-
only exist for this type of electric-
The converters inside the wind tur-
vert power more frequently than is
ity transport, and wind turbines
bines could be done away with and
actually necessary.
are also developed based on those
the AC power could be fed directly
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For more information, go to www.master-builders-solutions.basf.co.uk
Detlef Koenemann
The tower sections
are fitted with a
scaffolding on land.
A lift raises the
individual components aloft. Even the
nacelle is mounted
with the lift.
Lifts instead
of cranes
Weather windows are a bottleneck. Installation vessels with large
capacity cranes are another. Both could become unnecessary if a
new installation method catches on, the offshore installation lift.
i
nstalling an offshore wind
tower section rolls along the same path onto the
turbine with no crane at
transition piece, which is equipped with four mount-
all. What at first sounds
ing points for the installation mast
surreal could become a
Berg, this is the only structural adaptation necessary
reality in about five years,
for the otherwise entirely conventional standard
according to Mario Berg. By that time, tower sections,
according to
components.
nacelles and rotor blades could be installed by lift.
Berg-idl GmbH. His company has developed and pat-
reaching for the sky,
step by step
ented the Wind Lift Tower. Instead of using a crane, indi-
The scaffolding on the first tower section now becomes
vidual tower sections are placed one atop the other with
the bottom part of an installation mast which takes
a lift mounted on a self-erecting installation mast.
shape around the tower over the course of its construc-
The process unfolds step by step: First, all of the
34
tion. Later, the mast and scaffolding can be dismantled
tower sections are fitted with a scaffolding on shore.
and re-used
A lifting car is then attached to the lowermost tower
wind turbines and for maintenance. The scaffolding
section. The tower sections, once equipped with the
around the tower segments serves incidentally during
scaffolding, are rolled onto a jack-up barge on wheels.
transport to protect against surface damage which could
Once they arrive in the construction area, the bottom
lead to corrosion.
both for the construction of additional
Graphics (2): Berg-idl
Berg is the Director of the German engineering firm
SciEncE & TEchnology | InstallatIon
remote control to position
The lifting car raises
the second section of the
tower into the air. Once
raised, it is shifted to the
side and hydraulically em-
Visit us:
WINDFORCE
Stand C 21
the rotor blade precisely in
the hub. Up top, a technician merely has to tighten
down the nuts.
placed. The tower and the
The fact that compo-
installation mast assembly
nents are never suspended
are now a bit higher. “The
cranes in use today have
www.seaports.de
make the construction of
offshore
difficulties with the current
wind
turbines
lifting heights and loads,” says Berg. Wind Lift Tower’s
using the new assembly method less dependent on the
lifting car can hoist more than 500 t, and lifting heights
weather and thus faster and cheaper at the same time.
of more than 150 m are possible. The system is designed
Berg estimates a purchase price of € 6 million for the
to assemble 10 MW turbines, says Berg.
Wind Lift Tower, which is designed to install a wind
Once the tower is erected, the work of the system
is far from done. Even the nacelle, including two ro-
turbine within two to three days. And according to Berg,
the lift can operate 365 days a year.
tor blades attached on land, can be raised into the air
Now, the question remains of who will step up, money
with the lift. The vertical forces generated during lift-
in hand, and bring Berg-idl’s concept into reality. “We
ing, as well as the forces between the lifting car and
have some very interested parties,” said Berg. But “big,
the installation mast are completely absorbed by the
heavy industry” is on the conservative side, he added.
auxiliary mast.
Currently, installation using a crane is considered the
And even for the crowning final rotor blade no
method of choice. However, Berg is pinning his hopes
crane is needed. In a collaborative project, Berg-idl and
on installation firms that want to lower their costs and
the Institute for Integrated Production Hannover (IPH)
crane companies that are looking for alternative busi-
developed a gripper for use in installing rotor blades with
ness ideas. He is also hoping to get shipyards excited
the Wind Lift Tower. The gripper, together with the rotor
about his idea as well. After all, all of these potential
blade, also rides skyward along the installation mast. The
clients should be interested in cost-cutting potential.
gripper can be controlled and tilted up to 15 degrees by
when aloft is supposed to
Katharina Garus
ͲopƟmaluseofallpossibleweatherwindows
WeatherservicefortheoīshoreindustrywithourwebsoluƟon:
MarineForecastService
x WindfarmsͲbothconstrucƟonandoperaƟon
x CableͲlayingvessels,tugsanddrillrigs
x AcƟveLightningWarning
x TailormadesoluƟons
DMIMariƟmeService|Lyngbyvej100|DKͲ2100|CopenhagenOE|Denmark|oīshore@dmi.dk|www.weatherrouteing.dk
35
logistics & operations | PorTs
Special
economic
conditions
thyborØn port s focus is addressed
towards the planned construction of
near coast offshore wind parks.
t
36
he development of elec-
ments. On 25 May, the German technology conglomerate
tricity generation in the
Siemens confirmed its intention to invest around  160
North Sea has created
million (around € 196 million) in the construction of a wind
special economic condi-
turbine production facility. The plan is to build construc-
tions at the ports on the
tion, assembly and maintenance facilities at two locations
British, Danish, German, Dutch and Belgian coasts. And
in the port of Hull, including the “Green Port Hull” at the
the construction of the offshore wind farms is still only
Alexandra Dock. This is a major expansion of Siemens’
in its early stages. The German projects in particular
original plans from 2011. Associated British Ports (ABP)
due to the years of delays are only just getting off the
will invest an additional  150 million. ABP emphasized
ground, with the start of the actual construction phase.
that the two investments would lead to a significant eco-
As only a fraction of the plans for the German EEZ have
nomic upturn, with the direct creation of 1,000 new jobs.
been implemented so far, the North Sea ports can look
Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the an-
forward to brisk business over the next few years. How-
nouncement from Siemens. He said: “This is a massive
ever, the competition is strong, and not all ports will
vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan. This
profit equally.
investment is going to create lots of new jobs and op-
The newsflash of the year: the port of Hull, in the north-
portunities, meaning more financial security and peace
east of England, secured a large share of the total invest-
of mind for families and a more resilient economy for
Photo: Port of Thyborøn
The problems in Germany with the energy transition in general, and
with offshore wind power in particular, have affected the ports of
the German Bight. In contrast, at British ports the wind industry has
already taken on the role of economic powerhouse.
at the offshore-terminal 1 of the base
port of cuxhaven monopiles and transition
pieces are shipped for the offshore amrumbank West wind farm.
logistics &
operations
our country.” Green Port Hull should be ready for opera-
made headlines in recent weeks. At the end of March,
tions in 2016, in time to participate in the third round
the company’s own crane erected the tallest turbine
of bidding. The effects of the large investment will be
in the Netherlands near the town of Lelystad on the
felt across the entire Humber region at the confluence
IJsselmeer. Wagenborg maintains another two termi-
of the Rivers Ouse and Trent.
nals in Eemshaven, close to Delfzijl. Activities focus on
offshore logistics.
Photo: Cuxport
Good news all around
The Orange Blue Terminal (OBT) in the Dutch town
The company Royal Wagenborg, which maintains two
of Eemshaven was awarded the contract for the handling
terminals at Delfzijl in the Netherlands for supplying
of 77 foundation structures for the Borkum Riffgrund 1
the offshore wind farms and construction sites, has also
offshore wind farm. The structures will carry Siemens
www.4Coffshore.com | +44 (0) 1502 307037
Offshore Wind Intelligence
Complete service featuring specifications, construction dates
and stakeholders for commissioned and planned projects.
Submarine Cable Consultancy
Experienced marine consultants committed to mitigating issues
raised by route design, installation and operation.
Market Analysis
Tailored reports to help secure your future in the offshore wind
industry - market share, forecasts, political policy and more.
37
Photo: Buss Port Logistics
the temporary storage of components demands
Photo: bremenports
the allocation of large storage areas by the ports.
turbines with a rated capacity of 3.6 MW. OBT is re-
Global Tech 1, Riffgat as well as the Alstom Haliade in
sponsible for the planning, coordination and execution.
the Belwind offshore wind farm. To further strengthen
Operational aspects will be handled by the Hamburg-
its market position, Verbrugge has entered into a co-
based company Buss, together with its Dutch partner
operation agreement with the Sarens Group, another
Uniteam Projects. OBT sees itself as the “link between
heavy lifting specialist.
land and sea”. The monopiles, each weighing 700 t,
38
will be manufactured in Aalborg, Denmark, before be-
seized opportunity
ing transported by heavy-lift ship to Eemshaven. From
For structural economic reasons, the German island
there the jack-up vessel Pacific Orca will carry them to
of Heligoland kept its eyes open for economic oppor-
the construction site.
tunities, and seized one when it presented itself. The
Bremerhaven witnessed some spectacular crane
German energy company E.on selected Heligoland for
work when Mammoet, which specializes in heavy loads,
its maintenance port and the topping out of the adminis-
attached four legs to the installation vessel Aeolus, the
trative building was celebrated in January. The installa-
newest installation ship in the fleet of offshore special-
tion work for the offshore wind farm Amrumbank West
ist Van Oord. The platform-legs are 139 m long and
was already underway as the scaffolding was being
weigh 920 t. Mammoet Terminal operates two sites,
removed.
Schiedam, and Terneuzen on the River Scheldt, and is
There is not much to report from German offshore
considered the global market leader in the handling of
ports such as Brunsbüttel, Cuxhaven or Bremerhaven.
heavy loads.
“Energy transition: lull in offshore activity in Bremer-
Another logistics service provider is Verbrugge
haven” read the headline of a German news magazine
Zeeland Terminals B.V. The Dutch company oper-
in February. The magazine criticized the back-and-forth
ates three terminals in the ports of Vlissingen and
politics of the German government, which has left in-
Zeebrugge. It has a long list of reference projects:
vestors feeling insecure for months and has affected the
London Array, Greater Gabbard, Sheringham Shoal,
German ports. With the collapse of the German fishing
Offshore
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39
38
37
Ports around
the North Sea
36
35
34
33
32
1
Skagen
21
Vlissingen
2
Thyborøn
22
Terneuzen
3
Esbjerg
23
Zeebrugge
4
Rømø
24
Oostende
5
Heligoland
25
Dunkerque
6
Stade
26
Harwich
7
Cuxhaven
27
Lowestoft
8
Bremerhaven
28
Great Yarmouth
9
Brake
29
Grimsby
10
Nordenham
30
Immingham
Wilhelmshaven
31
Hull
12
Norddeich
32
Middlesbrough
13
Emden
33
Hartlepool
14
Delfzijl
34
Sunerland
15
Eemshaven
35
Blyth
16
11
Harlingen
36
Aberdeen
17
Amsterdam
37
Peterhead
18
IJmuiden
38
Fraserburgh
19
Schiedam
39
Macduff
20
Rotterdam
40
Lyness
40
31
30
29
16
28
18
27
26
19
21
22
23
24
25
20
17
Offshore
Wind industry
1
2
Offshore
for Sure
3
4
We take care of your offshore wind
logistics:
5
t 1FSGFDUDPNCJOBUJPO#BMJUJD4FB
5FSNJOBM4BTTOJU[BOE/PSUI4FB
5FSNJOBM&FNTIBWFO
7
12
15
13
11
10
8
22
6
9
14
t *EFBMMPDBUJPOT$MPTFQSPYJNJUZ
UPXJOEQBSLTBOEEJSFDUBDDFTT
UPPQFOTFB
t $PNQFMMJOH&RVJQNFOU-BSHF
BSFBTIFBWZMJGUDBQBCJMJUJFTBOE
KBDLVQQPTTJCJMJUJFT
all along the north sea shore small and
large seaports are positioned, in order to
serve offshore wind energy as construction
www.buss-ports.de
and service ports.
41
Detailed information on selected North Sea ports
supporting the offshore wind industry
options (y/n)
port handling
operators
suitable
installations
base
o&M
base
storage
space
Development
land
Free Hanseatic
city Bremen
rWe, eurogate
y
y
y
y
germany
Free Hanseatic
city Bremen
FBg
y
y
y
y
germany
Free Hanseatic
city Bremen
Blg logistics group
y
y
y
y
netherlands
Harlingen
seaport
Buss port logistics
y
y
y
y
EastPort UK
United Kingdom
great Yarmouth
port company
great Yarmouth port
company
y
y
y
y
Harwich
International Port
United Kingdom
Hutchison
ports
y
y
y
y
Port of Nordenham
germany
seaports of
niedersachsen
rhenus
y
y
y
y
Port of Amsterdam
netherlands
city of
amsterdam
Havenbedrijf
amsterdam
y
y
y
y
Port of Brake
germany
niedersachsen
ports
J. Müller group
y
y
y
y
Port of Cuxhaven
germany
niedersachsen
ports
cuxport
y
y
y
y
Port of Emden
germany
niedersachsen
ports
anker-schiffahrts
gesellschaft, epas,
eVag, Jakob Weets
spedition
y
y
y
y
Port of Norddeich
germany
niedersachsen
ports
niedersachsen
ports, reederei
norden-Frisia
n
y
n
n
Port of Stade
germany
niedersachsen
ports
Buss port logistics
n
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
country
port owner
germany
Labrador Port
Bremerhaven
Offshore Terminal
ABC-Halbinsel
Container Terminal
Bremerhaven
Orange Blue Terminals Eemshaven
Port of
Wilhelmshaven
germany
niedersachsen
ports
Jade-Dienst,
Jade-Weser logistik,
rhenus
Port of Thyborøn
Denmark
Municipality of
lemvig
thyborøn port
authority
y
y
y
y
Port of IJmuiden
netherlands
Zeehaven
iJmuiden
Zeehaven
iJmuiden
y
y
y
y
fleet and the slow death of the German shipbuilding
port” in Ostend. The vision is to use the port for both
industry, these ports have all either just come out of a
offshore and onshore activities. According to the plan-
structural crisis or are still in the middle of one.
ners, the advantages of the energy port are its direct sea
The example of Ostend, which was no less affected
access, no limitations on transport and storage, ability
by structural changes in the maritime industries, shows
of jack-up vessels to operate in the harbour area, 24/7
how things could be. The port was used to build the
operations and no negative impact on the surround-
Belgian offshore wind farm Thorntonbank. The location
ings. The decommissioned areas of the port are already
of the port was ideal as the construction site can be
being partially used, for instance to store foundation
reached within an hour from the northern quay.
structures on areas suitable for heavy loads, including
At the end of March this year, a consortium consist-
2,800 t gravity foundations.
ing of the software specialist 3E, MOP Urban Design
and i-propeller presented a master plan for an “energy
42
Jörn Iken
rail
links
Major road
Helipad
reference customer (offshore wind industry)
5
9
10
eurogate container terminal Bremerhaven
5
2.5
1
WeserWind, senvion, areva Wind, powerblades
5
5
5
Blg logistics group
0
3 to n33;
34 to a7
under
construction
areva Wind, geosea, Hochtief solutions, Jp Kenny, Mpi consultants
4
4.3
6.5
n/a
0
0 to a120;
83 to M11
13
acted as main installation port for gunfleet sands, greater gabbard and london array.
support operations for a number of other projects.
0
10
15
several
0
0
0
land turbines parts Westermeerwind 2015
0.1
1
30
J. Müller Wind service & logistics, sgl rotec (lemwerder)
0.4
3.5
12
ambau, Bard engineering, cuxhaven steel construction, DeWi-occ, Dl Helicopter, pne Wind,
otto Wulf, offshore Marine services
0.1
2.5
10
eMs Maritime offshore gmbH, ag eMs, enercon, nsW nordseewerke, oWs offshore Wind
solutions
0.1
0.1 to B 72;
36 to a 31
1.5
Frisia-offshore, Dong energy, ag eMs, tennet, repower
10
10 to a29;
60 to a1
14
areva Blades
0.1
0.3
6
Hydraulik-pneumatik-Kontor Jade, Jade Werke, neptun schiffahrts-agentur, Wiking Helikopter
service, Motorenwerke WHV, navitek, neue Jadewerft, turbo-technik reparatur-Werft
0
50
0
envision, test facilities, and installation port (test turbine). JD contractors (preparation work at
Horns rev 3), Fugro (geotechnical/preparation at Vesterhav nord and Vesterhav syd. rønland
offshore park is situated 1 km south of the port.
0
0
20
oWeZ, prinses amaliapark including maintenance luchterduinen 2015
source: company data
Distance to [km]
lOgistiCs & OperatiOns | BorWin alpha
For several months, Bard Offshore 1 could not feed into the
grid, as the HVDC converter
BorWin alpha was switched off.
Socket
out of service
44
NACELLE
CONTROL
of
BorWin
was
all,
with 80 machines and 400 MW con-
alpha
nected load, was not able to feed into
scheduled
the grid for several months.
to be switched off for maintenance
Global Tech 1 was also affected
work by TenneT on 17 October 2013.
by the outage. As the HVDC con-
However, the socket only came back
verter is not yet working for this
into operation on 5 January 2014.
offshore wind park, the operators of
“Maintenance got significantly de-
Global Tech 1 can use the free trans-
layed, as the scaffolding on the plat-
mission capacity of the neighbour-
form had to be taken down again due
ing platform BorWin alpha.
to several storms. “Safety takes abso-
Usually, TenneT is only allowed
lute priority with us,” says Henrike
to take the platform out of operation
Lau, Press Officer at TenneT. On
for ten calendar days, according to
23 March, there was also a technical
the German Energy Economy Act.
defect. “A capacitator had burnt out,
From the eleventh day of mainte-
and the fire had severely contami-
nance, the connected operators are
nated the utility room. This has to be
entitled to compensation. Under ap-
cleaned thoroughly first,” says Lau.
plicable law, this adds up to 90 %
According to TenneT, cleaning is to
of the lost revenue. In compliance
be completed by the second week in
with the same set of rules, TenneT
May. The capacitator is expected to
can transfer a large proportion of
be ready for use again then.
the costs to the power customers, as
The outage also means several
months of standstill for the con-
OPTIMIZATION
ROTOR BLADE
TOWER
OFFSHORE SERVICES
OFFSHORE CONSULTING
INSPECTION
irst
SAFETY
MAINTENANCE
f
OIL SERVICE
REPAIR
First the maintenance, then the storms,
and if that wasn t enough, there was also
a fire on BorWin alpha. The worldwide
first high-voltage DC converter for an
offshore wind farm was out of operation
for several months.
REPOWERING
ONSHORE CONSULTING
SUBSTATIONS
long as the company cannot be accused of negligence or intent.
FOUNDATION
nected wind farms. The most affectpark Bard Offshore 1. The power
Preventing complete failure
plant built by the Bard Group which
The € 400 million converter station
is currently undergoing liquidation,
was supplied by ABB AG in 2009.
photo: aBB
ed was the German North Sea wind
Full service from the same source
deutsche-windtechnik.com
lOgistiCs & OperatiOns | BorWin alpha
the € 400 million converter
station BorWin alpha was
supplied by aBB in 2009. since
then, it has connected Bard
Since then, it has connected Bard
readiness of every single wind en-
(Research, Development, Design and
Offshore 1 with the mainland by
ergy plant,” says Richard Schmidt
Education for Fire Safety in Unique
way of a 120 km long high-volt-
Obermöller,
Technical
Environments) estimate that the
age DC transmission line (HVDC).
Director of Offshore Wind Solu-
outage of a transformer due to a fire
Customer of the world premiere for
tions GmbH, which manages the
can last between 24 and 30 months
low-loss power transmission was
wind farm.
and cost some hundred million Euro.
the
For this reason, Flare wants to mini-
Eon, which was taken over in 2010
amounts that depend on the oper-
mise the disproportionate fire risks
by TenneT.
Transpower, then a subsidiary of
46
The
Deputy
incidence
shows
ability of the sockets at sea. This
with adapted technical solutions.
During peak days in March, Bard
is why the converter stations are
In addition to the Danish transmis-
Offshore 1 produced up to 417 MW.
handled with great care. Apart from
sion system operator Energienet.dk,
During the shut-offs, the systems
a ship collision, fires represent the
leading institutions in the field of
were supplied with power via the
largest risk of failure, which are very
fire protection safety are also part of
diesel generator of the windfarm-
hard to insure due to the high costs.
the research consortium. This might
internal transformer platform to
This is also true for the windfarm-
result in a standard for the industry
sustain all functions. “Compared to
internal power collectors. Experts of
with uniform codes.
TenneT, we must prove operational
the new research consortium Flare
Torsten Thomas
photo: Torsten Thomas
Offshore 1 with the mainland.
One stop shop
advertorial
Westhofhaven at Vlissingen
Quite a few offshore wind projects are planned in the North Sea. Projects that require
a lot of materials that need to be shipped in by sea. The port of Vlissingen is an ideal
home base for delivery for wind energy projects.
Photo: Zeeland Seaports
T
he port company Zeeland
for example in Limburg. Companies
branch with a future. Today, the parks
Seaports is responsible
often look to Zeeland Seaports spe-
are being built. This will involve many
for the economic develop-
cifically for the temporary storage of
shipping movements and extra jobs
ment, management and running of the
monopiles, transition pieces and simi-
also in construction and assembly work.
port area of Vlissingen. The location
lar. Companies such as BOW Terminals
In a number of years, these parks will
is one of the company’s strong points.
and Verbrugge Terminals are offering
need maintenance and replacements.
The ports are close to the North Sea
the space and facilities needed for ef-
Again, this will involve production,
and are favourably located in relation to
ficient transport to the building sites.
transport and jobs. The port company
the Netherlands, Belgium, the north of
Companies such as Hoondert and VDS
has joined forces with trade & industry
France, the United Kingdom and even
are specialised in the building of large
to promote the opportunities presented
Germany and Denmark. In addition, the
steel constructions; Heerema provides
by Vlissingen. Zeeland Seaports is able
ports are very well accessible. Broad
foundations for drilling platforms,
to favourably present the port of Vliss-
installation vessels can navigate free-
Mammoet is a specialist in the area
ingen with all its advantages for the off-
ly, unencumbered by locks or bridges.
of heavy transport, Multraship can be
shore wind industry.
This is important because what is true
deployed as a towage service, and there
anywhere, is true for this branch espe-
are many other companies that provide
cially: time is money. For the transport
great services as well. In short, Zeeland
of heavy loads, special ships are needed,
Seaports has everything needed to fa-
which can only bring along a limited
cilitate the building of offshore energy
amount of material each time. There-
projects. A true one stop shop! The first
Zeeland Seaports
fore, speedy handling is of the utmost
20 projects have already been executed.
P.O. Box 132
importance.
Vlissingen presents itself as a success-
4530 AC Terneuzen
ful home base.
The Netherlands
Space and facilities
Tel.: +31 (0) 115 647400
Space is another plus of the Vlissingen
Joined forces
Fax: +31 (0) 115 647500
location. Many wind generator parts
It is an image that Zeeland Seaports
port@zeelandseaports.com
are manufactured in the Hinterland,
wants to maintain and reinforce. It is a
www.zeelandseaports.com
47
The open sea is a
dangerous workplace.
The rescue of casualties
is difficult.
Photo: Skylotec
Patient
stabilised
48
LogisTics & operaTions | Safety
at least 80 injured and four deaths have resulted from the
construction of offshore wind turbines in the North Sea, but
activities to create an unbroken rescue chain have sped up
considerably. the first success here: a control centre in Bremen.
W
orking
an
on
offshore
on offshore wind turbines is no higher than the rate in
corresponding industrial sectors.
wind turbine
What is actually more challenging and risky is the
is dangerous.
time after the accident. What medical aid can come 50,
And
Acci-
60 or 100 km out into the open seas? A team of experts
dents repeatedly happen, including fatal ones. However,
has been looking intensively at the subject of the res-
the risks are also “felt subjectively”, as the accident rate
cue chain for about four years now. And late but not
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The helicopter is always the transport of choice when it comes to getting accident victims back to land as
quickly as possible.
too late: offshore wind farm operators, the police, poli-
Baur, spokesperson for the DGzRS. “In an emergency on
ticians, maritime groups, service providers and rescue
an offshore wind turbine, corporate health and safety
organisations on land are taking concrete steps to pro-
kicks in first: it is thus the individual responsibility of
vide emergency services without conflicts of jurisdiction
each company to have adequate protection and safety
and competence.
concepts in place, including rescue equipment and an
One of the most pressing tasks was the setting up
unbroken chain of communication. It is one of several
of a control centre to receive calls and coordinate res-
solutions for the wind farm operator to work together
cue work. About two years ago, the German Maritime
with the GMN.”
Rettung Schiffbrüchiger, DGzRS) agreed to set this up.
Complex rescue situation
The DGzRS founded a new company, the Society for
The customers of the GMN are RWE, WindMW, 50Hertz,
Maritime Emergency Management (Gesellschaft für
ABB, EnBW, DanTysk, Global Tech 1, Siem Offshore and
maritimes Notfallmanagement, GMN) for the Offshore
Dong Energy. These companies have meanwhile closed
Wind Emergency Control Centre (Notfallleitstelle
the relevant contracts with the GMN. An important pre-
Offshore-Windparks, NOW).
requisite for this was, and is, that the work of the GMN is
The NOW in Bremen is currently celebrating its
first birthday and it operates closely together with the
50
financed by the wind farm operators and that they have
their own rescue equipment available on call.
offshore operators. This not only increases the safety
The wind farm operators do not have unlimited li-
standards, but is legally anchored this way, explains Ralf
abilities for rescue and medical first aid, however. There
Photo: WINDeacare
Search and Rescue Service (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur
LogisTics & operaTions | Safety
is a ceiling on what constitutes an acceptable level of
company responsibility. For this reason the expression
“complex rescue situation” was introduced. It exists
when a demanding or time-critical rescue is necessary,
individual emergency first aid provision must be carried
out or several groups must be coordinated. The responsibilities then change, says Baur.
“Once complex damage or a complex rescue situation has occurred and an operation by the emergency
response team of the Central Command for Maritime
Emergencies (CCME) is necessary within the framework of state public service provision, then overall
responsibility and command falls to the response unit
of the CCME. Depending on the circumstances, the
NOW is responsible for special tasks within a response
field,” explains Baur. Secure and quick communication
between all parties involved has a high priority here.
The head of the CCME, Hans-Werner Monsees,
introduced this emergency response team at a symposium in Flensburg: two rescue-at-heights specialPhoto: Siemens
ists, a rescue assistant, an emergency doctor and the
team leader. The normal means of transportation is
The transfer from the boat to the turbine is risky and
by helicopter.
Jörn Iken
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4DIBéU0éTIPSFEJF8FOEF
1PUFO[JBMFNJUEFN&&(FSTDIMJFFO
0#.$
+VMJ3FOETCVSH
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demands full concentration.
At a glance
i
t often looks quite
communication structures at sea. Af-
of 20 years, plant operators are also
simple: in the con-
ter all, the goal is to obtain informa-
responsible for maritime surveil-
trol rooms of off-
tion not only on the water but also
lance and the safety of personnel
shore wind farms a few employees
back on land,” says Project Engineer
in the project area. In order to give
sit in front of monitors or a digital
Karsten Müller. Müller works at
the employees in the control room
screen. They monitor the electrical
WindMW and helped to develop the
an overall grasp of the situation, all
systems of the power plant, respond
control room for the Meerwind wind
of the information must be pooled
to error messages or switch on the
farm. The area to be monitored is a
and processed through interfaces.
lights for a helicopter to land on a
full 40 km² and lies 24 km northwest
One way this is done is through a
transformer platform. Radio calls
of the island of Heligoland.
higher-level system that transmits
all of the information through de-
crackle over the loudspeaker. Expethe sea from land and give instruc-
Bundling
information
tions to ships’ crews.
rienced captains monitor an area of
52
fined interfaces, and then combines
and clearly displays it.
Ultimately, control rooms not only
This requires a lot of work, be-
“Indeed, it is pioneering work
control and monitor the wind tur-
cause each manufacturer provides
to build a network and bidirectional
bines. During the operational period
a monitoring system which comes
Photos (2): Torsten Thomas
The construction of fail-safe information and communication
technology in the middle of the sea is pioneering work. Some
operators also employ people tracking for security reasons.
politics &
business
Every ship movement and position
in a wind farm can be sent to the
screen by radar.
part and parcel with its technology.
we built our own TETRA network to
you always have a signal, and there
That applies not only to the wind
ensure a safe working environment
are no dead spots. You can also es-
turbine, but also to corrosion pro-
at sea, and fortunately we were able
tablish priority for emergency calls,”
tection, lighting and substations.
to use the high transmission tower
explains Volker Köhler, the Manag-
Depending on the monitoring strat-
on Heligoland,” says Müller. This
ing Director of MarineSoft GmbH.
egy, the control system can quickly
decision has already paid off, as
Some operators also use so-
grow to include 30 or 40 systems
the completed project has not had
called people tracking for security
and theoretically consist of as just
a functioning undersea cable to the
reasons. This is either part of their
as many monitors. “That’s why our
mainland for months due to the sig-
own safety philosophies or a re-
goal was to clearly depict as many
nificantly delayed grid connection.
quirement imposed by suppliers. In-
systems as possible on one big
All of the data flowing between the
dividuals are monitored using either
screen,” says Müller.
wind farm and the mainland are sent
RFID chips or GPS modules which
over the radio.
display the locations of employees
During operations, the data traffic between the mainland and the
or tool boxes in real time.
problem, because fibre optic cables
People tracking
for safety
monitoring is used is always de-
are part of the overall infrastructure.
This wireless technology can do
pendent on the operators. In the
Without a complete network con-
much more. For instance, the hand-
communication systems in place
nection, however, or in the event
sets can automatically send an alert
at Meerwind and Global Tech 1,
of cable damage, the situation is al-
over the marine distress frequency
this option is available for security
together different. Operators there-
if they land in the water with their
reasons. In answer to a query by
fore have to find a viable alternative
owners. A so-called dead-man func-
OWI, Dong Energy stated that up to
to the fibre optic network for use as
tion can also be enabled if the devices
now, it has relied upon team leaders
a redundancy during the construc-
are not moved for a certain period.
and their planning. “There are also
tion phase. This pioneering work
“Unlike the normal mobile networks
wind farms that automatically track
wind farm alone is not normally a
How and whether this form of
often makes use of the TETRA standard. This digital directional radio
technology is often used by government authorities because it cannot
be tapped and is virtually fail-safe.
Special TETRA handsets can not
only make calls over the internet,
but also transmit large data packets
via directional radio signals.
Building a corporate radio network far from the coast is anything
but easy, however, because first a
radio mast for the antennas must
be built. Its height is crucial to the
range. “At peak times in the construction phase, there were up to
350 people in the field. That’s why
53
During the construction
politics & businEss | ConTrol CenTreS
phase, traffic in a wind
farm is abundant and must
be monitored.
54
where employees board ships and
check their certificates or the valid-
Dreller of in-innovative navigation.
where they disembark. That, at least,
ity of their mandatory safety train-
Sensitive radar antennas installed in
makes it clear where the employees
ing. SeaPlanner can also automati-
the wind farm capture the necessary
are. In other projects, the systems
cally compare operational plans for
information. The shipping traffic in
are only activated in emergencies,”
employees and ships, or the trans-
the construction and subsequent op-
says Köhler.
port of components with weather
eration phases is then visualised in
predictions for a project area.” This
the control rooms.
Monitoring protection corridors
software is used on several gas
Part of the information also
fields off the coast of Australia and
comes from the ships themselves.
The SeaPlanner from SeaRoc Ltd. of-
records 25,000 movements of em-
This applies to all vessels exceed-
fers a complete solution. The web-
ployees every month,” says Dominic
ing 500 GT, which are required to
based software is already used in sev-
Stratton of SeaRoc.
be equipped with an Automatic
eral wind farms in the UK, Belgium
The specialists at in-innovative
Identification System. This AIS
and Germany. Its modular structure
navigation GmbH come from the
automatically transmits the posi-
makes it highly versatile for the
inland waterway shipping sector.
tion, course, and unique identifier
management of wind farms. The
Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely
of the ship at certain intervals. In
SeaPlanner visualises and records
due to this background, they have
addition, the radar systems moni-
all of the spatial information, such
made a good business of supply-
tor a protection corridor around the
as shipping traffic and the status of
ing marine monitoring systems. On
wind farm. When ships penetrate
structures. In addition, special zones
the list of their customers are such
this zone, it automatically triggers
can be monitored where cables are
names as Riffgat, Butendiek, Global
an alarm. This concept is designed
currently being laid, and anchoring
Tech 1 and Borkum West 2. “In in-
not only to issue a timely warning
is prohibited, or where diving opera-
land waterway shipping, it is much
of potential ship collisions, but it
tions are taking place.
more difficult to monitor narrow
also reliably detects even very small
Another module is called the
waterways, locks and bridges. Our
boats not equipped with AIS. Such
Personnel Manager. Starting from
expertise is in aligning movements
ships might be piloted by curious
the very first day, this tool can track
on the radar with digital charts very
recreational boaters, for instance, or
every employee movement on the
accurately and interpreting that
fishermen hoping to fill their nets in
maritime job site and automatically
information reliably,” says Claudia
restricted areas.
Torsten Thomas
Created and produced by
In search of solid foundations
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ǇŽƵƌĨƵƚƵƌĞďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ
29 October 2014
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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politics & business | COnTraCTinG
With general contractors the risks lie in
one hand
so, no question of who bears
which risk in the installation stage.
One-stop
solution
s
ometimes
it
is
ne
Ten international banks are lined up to furnish the
cessary to go beyond
debt capital, including banks from Canada, Spain and
conventional wisdom in
Japan, which so far have not been involved in the off
order to build trust with
shore business. And Gemini is no small fry. With a rated
investors and tap into
capacity of 600 MW and 150 turbines from Siemens,
new financial sources. Dutch project developer Typhoon
the wind farm will be the second largest offshore wind
Offshore seems to have succeeded in doing so with the
power plant in Europe after the London Array, with the
Gemini wind farm, located 55 km north of the Dutch
biggest project financing to date.
island Schiermonnikoog. After financial close, Typhoon
56
will no longer be part of the project but will have prac
unconventional financing
tically provided the investors with a practically turnkey
Northland Power, the Canadian majority shareholder
ready wind farm, including financing.
that holds some 60 % of the rights, does not provide
Photo: Vattenfall
The Dutch offshore wind farm Gemini is soon to reach financial
close in addition to being a first for offshore wind: Van Oord
has joined the € 2.8 billion project as both general contractor
and, together with turbine supplier Siemens, investor.
Ports for Your
Wind Energy Ventures
all equity capital, which in total amounts to € 500
million. A further unusual aspect is that Van
Brake
Oord, the general contractor, and Siemens Bank
are, respectively, contributing 10 % and 20 % of
Cuxhaven
the financing. Although both companies are still
Emden
keeping their financial commitment confidential
Norden
since negotiations are ongoing, apparently, just
Stade
a few formalities remain to be completed. A few
Wilhelmshaven
Dutch public utility companies also hold equity
See you at
Windforce 2014
hall 4 stand C21
stakes. “Basically, the equity capital is there. This
new equity structure gives investors and financ
ing banks more security,” says Guido Kumbartzky,
17 - 19 June
Bremen
Head of German Operation at Typhoon.
To achieve this is one of Van Oord’s tasks as
a general contractor. Indeed, besides all cabling,
engineering and awarding contracts, the company
is also responsible for several other aspects of the
project. The EPC (engineering, procurement and
www.nports.de | marketing@nports.de
CWind Sun & Wind May14 Ad_CWind Sun & Wind May14 Ad 07/05/2014 13:28
construction) contract, amounting to € 1.3 billion,
also includes the installation of 150 foundations
and turbines, the converter substations and the
supply station onshore. Siemens will supply the
turbines and provide servicing for 15 years, while
Van Oord will enhance its already impressive fleet
of vessels. The installation vessel Aeolus, built at
the Sietas shipyard in Hamburg, already left the
docks in late April, and a new cable layer is cur
rently under construction in Romania.
new strategy
As EPC contractors, the Dutch company is pursuing
a new strategy in the offshore wind business. Un
like the socalled multicontracting, which involves
numerous subcontractors, the risks and responsibi
lity for the budget here, are in just a few hands. This
method is meant to minimise the many interfaces
that occur in multicontracting because of the large
number of trades involved. Basically, future opera
tors need to negotiate a large number of individual
services and make sure everything complies with
the law. The financing banks and insurance com
panies are also always concerned about who bears
CWind provides a wide range of services to help our clients realise their
offshore wind projects.
o
o
o
o
Project solu�ons
Vessel charter
Turbine technicians
Training services
t: 01206 304464 e: info@cwind247.com www.cwind247.com
Proven solutions for the offshore wind farm industry
politics & business | COnTraCTinG
Van oord, as an epc contractor, had previously secured
quite a number of deals. At belwind, the Dutch company
has relocated the electrical infrastructure and has provided the foundations.
The Director of the offshore wind division now
intends to put this strategy into practice with some se
lected subcontractors. Some German subcontractors also
figure among the suppliers for Gemini. Rostockbased
EEW Special Pipe Constructions, for example, is to build
75 monopiles, with the Dutch Sif Group producing the
other half. The contracts for the two converter substations
were awarded to a Belgian consortium consisting of CG,
Fabricom and Lemants, while nkt cables will manufacture
the export cable in their Cologne facilities.
Van Oord is already planning to finish another project
this year, the 129 MW Dutch Luchterduinen wind farm. The
company is responsible for the foundations and the cabling.
While the Sif Group is once again responsible for the mono
piles, the export cable laying was awarded to GermanDutch
cable specialists Visser & Smit Marine Contracting (VSMC).
“We are very pleased to have signed such an important
contract,” Arno van Poppel, VSMC’s CEO, said in late April.
expensive lessons learnt
To date, only few players have ventured to take on the
role of general contractor. Those that did paid a price for
their daring. For the English wind farm Greater Gabbard,
the US company Fluor Limited had to write off a large
amount because it could not stay within the agreed
amount of 1.8 billion US dollars. Bard Holding already
failed completely after their first project as a general
Areva Wind and Hochtief Solution were close to
easier when experienced companies carry the burden of
signing a contract in August last year for Windreich
risk as general contractors.
AG’s 400 MW MEG 1 wind farm as EPC contractors,
In its role as an EPC contractor, Van Oord has in the
both companies were about to launch a new era and
past only taken on individual tasks, but not the instal
create a track record as reliable partners with clear ideas
lation of a complete wind farm. However, Managing
of their responsibilities and risk distributions. The con
Director Johan van Wijland already laid out his strategy
tract was never signed, however, because Windreich
in an interview in 2012. “We expect that the companies
went bankrupt. Currently, both companies are still work
with a good performance, track record and reputation
ing together on the Global Tech 1 project, and Hochtief
will continue, and as a result investor confidence will
is engaged in a joint venture for Baltic 2 in the Baltic
grow. Furthermore, we expect that installation compa
Sea. Although there is still great interest in MEG 1 as an
nies that are not performing well will not survive. Part of
important followup project, both companies have stated
the market will remain in a multicontracting mode, but
their lack of interest in equity capital participation.
an increasing part will be taken by EPC contractors.”
58
Torsten Thomas
Photo: Van Oord
contractor for turnkey offshore wind farms.
which risk in the installation stage. Project financing is
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events
Think European
A
rtur Trindade said it succinctly: “We
at the rostrum: “We don’t need to expand the renew-
have to stop thinking as Portugal.” The
ables until we have solved the grid problem.” It seems
Portuguese Secretary of State for Energy,
crazy that the UK is building new gas-powered plants
who, as a Portuguese politician, tried to make up for the
while the already existing ones in Germany cannot
lack of attendance of a single Spanish politician at the
run, due to economic unviability. “It’s absurd,” said
EWEA 2014 in Barcelona, thus moulding the flowery
O’Connor. He demanded that the EWEA develop a solu-
language of various other speakers into a clear and yet
tion, and not just one for the European wind power sec-
self-critical appeal.
tor but one which is both comprehensive and has been
Eddie O’Connor, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of
developed in close cooperation with the PV sector.
Mainstream Renewable Power, also found clear words
Katharina Garus
Photo: EWEA
At the EWEA 2014 demands were made which really should be obvious for an
event organised by a European association: aim for European solutions.
YOUR GATEWAY
TO THE WORLD OF WINDENERGY
HAMBURG, 23 – 26 SEPTEMBER 2014
The leading international wind energy expo is the meeting place for onshore and
offshore experts from all around the world. Make the most of WindEnergy Hamburg:
For your business – back up your success
For your market insights – get  rst-hand up-to-date information
For more power to your network – develop, widen and maintain your business contacts
Plan your visit to WindEnergy Hamburg now. Be there when we open your gateway to
the world of wind energy, in the vibrant city of Hamburg from September 23 to 26, 2014.
in co-operation with
windenergyhamburg.com
dates
Windforce 2014
June 17
19, 2014
OBMC (Offshore Business
Meetings & Conference)
Bremen, Germany
July 3, 2014
Parallel to the trade fair, the conference will feature more
Rendsburg, Germany
than 40 presentations on current topics affecting the
The 6th Offshore Business Meetings & Conference is a
industry, excursions allowing a practical view of develop-
forum to make contacts.
ments in Germany, and a panel discussion focusing on
www.windcomm.de/obmc2014
political issues.
www.windforce2014.com
Global Offshore Wind 2014
June 11
12, 2014
Offshore Wind Power
Substations 2014
August 20
22, 2014
Bremen, Germany
Glasgow, Scotland
The two-day conference for experts is accompanied by a
RenewableUK presents the association s 13th annual
workshop day.
offshore wind energy conference and exhibition, this time
www.offshore-windpower-substations.com
with a truly global focus.
www.renewableuk.com/en/events/conferences-andexhibitions/global-offshore-wind-2014
6th Annual UK Ports Conference
June 25, 2014
London, England
The UK ports industry will gather to discuss the many
challenges facing port owners and operators. An excellent
opportunity for updates on the policy and initiatives proposed by the European Commission and UK Government
from expert speakers and industry leaders.
www.waterfrontconferencecompany.com/conferences/
ports-policy-2014
4th International Conference
Offshore Foundations
July 1
3, 2014
Bremen, Germany
Amongst others the participants can discover new installation tools and methods for monopiles and jackets,
review case studies and lessons learned from deep
water foundation projects, gain experience with flange
Offshore wind conference
Science Meets Industry
Technical and operational experts from
the industry together with researchers
from academia share their knowledge.
September 9th, Bergen, Norway.
See full program at norcowe.no
connections and evaluate floating designs.
www.foundations-offshore.com
61
internal
The going will
still be tough
The recent compromises made to
reform the Renewable Energy Act
(EEG) were certainly positive and
came as a surprise even to the wind
power industry. Nevertheless, investors will probably take a “wait and
see” approach before putting money
into the offshore wind industry. Ronny
Meyer, Managing Director of WAB,
believes that everyone involved will
want to make sure the new EEG is a
regulation they can rely on.
WAB: During the meeting of Germany’s state
premiers with Chancellor Angela Merkel on
8 April, finding agreement on a new EEG draft
did appear successful. Was that expected?
Ronny Meyer: On one hand, we didn’t expect them
to find agreement. But on the other hand, the political parties involved and the states too had already
talked through many points when they negotiated the
coalition agreement a while ago. So it might not be so
surprising that all sides agreed to the draft EEG. But I
wouldn’t say it was successful.
WAB: Why not?
Meyer: The media is portraying the situation acby some states and Sigmar Gabriel, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, and what the industry needs.
So there aren’t really any clear winners or losers.
62
Photo: WAB
curately as a true compromise between what is wanted
WAB: How much influence did the industry
be halved instead. We are assuming that cuts will be
have on negotiations?
in the region of 0.5 €-ct/kWh. The exact conditions are
Meyer: We have to say clearly that the northern
still unclear, but there will be a reduction in subsidies.
German states showed a united front, both for wind
power on land and offshore. They decisively defined
WAB: How should these reductions be
the political process and were strong advocates. In this
evaluated?
respect, the outcome of negotiations can be attributed
Meyer: It is striking that investors who have already
to their successful work. The same holds true for bio-
received approval for grid connection had to sign sup-
mass fuel in Bavaria because reforms were politically
ply contracts for main components before they were
negotiated between the states. Industry associations
given this approval by Germany’s federal network
had the opportunity beforehand to submit their points
agency in the first place. Because this already puts a
of criticism to the drafting process.
set price on a large share of the costs, future operators
will have to recoup their expenses in other places. This
WAB: Part of the compromise was the con-
could be difficult. But despite the headaches involved,
tingency of 1.2 GW being added to the grid
we can go along with this compromise.
capacity target of 6.5 GW for offshore wind
farms by 2020.
WAB: Can that be interpreted as the industry’s
Meyer: If subsidies are granted only for an in-
contribution to cost reduction?
stalled capacity of 6.5 GW, then we might not reach
Meyer: The contribution is actually much higher,
the designated target in the end. There is always a
but not during those two additional years. If we look
certain failure rate for infrastructure projects because
at the potential for reducing costs, it depends on the
the financing hasn’t come through somewhere, for
volume of installation. But even if expansion is moder-
example, or other risks have cropped up. Without the
ate, costs will come down. All the renewable energies
contingency we wouldn’t be able to fully achieve the
started at high cost levels and that applies to offshore
intended goal for expansion.
wind energy too. I think the potential for cost reduction, that so far has been considered simply theoreti-
WAB: Is this enough to let the industry work
cal, will materialise by 2020.
at full capacity?
Meyer: The offshore wind sector wanted more at
WAB: Is there an estimation of when all the
one point or another. If the conditions are right, we
facts on remuneration will be laid out on the
think 6.5 GW are very realistic. We’re more worried
table?
about the goal of installing 15 GW by 2030 because
Meyer: After the cabinet decision, the parliamentary
such a long-term plan can lose momentum in terms
process will begin and the agreed compromises will
of establishing and expanding an offshore industry in
be incorporated into the new EEG draft. This means
Germany. Political goals in the UK, for example, are
we must expect that the members of the Bundestag
much more clearly defined in contrast.
involved in the legislative procedure will make some
changes in the draft.
WAB: What do compromises on the acceleration model and degression look like?
WAB: The new EEG is supposed to go into
Meyer: The acceleration model was extended by two
force on 1 August 2014, but for all practical
years, until 2019, but not with the original promise of
purposes the offshore industry will not have
19 €-ct/kWh. Sigmar Gabriel says the degression will
taken another step by then.
63
internal
Meyer: Investors no longer rely on what politicians
policy-makers have set up this framework on time or
say. They have broken their promises too often in the
whether they have been too late in taking action.
past. We know that investors will first wait to see
the law enacted, black on white. Then they will start
WAB: The first open competitive bidding is
making investments again and placing orders.
expected in 2017. Does this mean that the next
hurdles will start to pile up?
WAB: So no final decisions would be taken
Meyer: Wind power on land is already leaning away
until then?
from reliance on fixed subsidies and heading towards
Meyer: Even though investors are still working on
obligatory direct marketing. This is a change in the
their projects in the background, I don’t think anyone
system and the next step would be to develop models
will throw a switch until the new EEG becomes law.
for competitive bidding. This is a new situation for
investors. In the offshore wind sector, such a rapid
WAB: What are the specific implications for
change in the system when lead times encompass
suppliers and the offshore industry?
all of ten years is not feasible. If policy-makers want
Meyer: It means more delay. The offshore sector has
competitive bidding to start in 2020, they should have
been pushing for rapid regulation. Given the long lead
launched that plan in 2013. But the fact is, nobody
times, no one will invest € 1.5 billion in an offshore
knows today how competitive bidding can work here.
wind farm if it isn’t clear what comes out of it at the
At the very least, there is nothing in written form yet
end. That’s why we have always pushed for a quick
and we advocate not rushing into this. Otherwise we’ll
solution because otherwise businesses start laying
find ourselves back in the situation where investors
off manpower and reducing work contracts. This is
don’t know what the future holds for them and have
exactly the situation we have now and it is a question
to start waiting again. That’s exactly what we want
of how long businesses can hold out. Keeping workers
to avoid. Politicians must understand that a system
employed on short-time contracts is a tool that should
change definitely has to take long lead times into
definitely be used now to better answer this question
account.
at the end of the year.
The interview was conducted by Torsten Thomas.
WAB: Do industry-related associations already
work towards this, and do they call for political support in these terms?
Meyer: We founded the Bündnis für Arbeit
[Alliance for Work] in Bremen, for example. The allican be loaned out, or whether the crisis caused by the
About wAb
delay in policy-making can be turned into an oppor-
The WAB Wind Energy Agency is the leading
tunity for workers to gain qualification skills during
business network for the wind energy industry in
this compulsory break, for example, or whether the
Germany’s northwest region and is the national
money for short-term contracts can be paid for longer
point of contact for the offshore wind energy
than twelve months. The last option was also avail-
sector in Germany.
able during the financial crisis. As an industry-related
www.wab.net
association we are very active on all these issues. But
Follow WAB on
ance looks to see if workers in other business areas
the overall framework has to be right. Now we’ll see if
64
Your Key to the
Offshore Industry!
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Offshore Wind
Energy Trade Fair
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17 – 19 June 2014,
Bremen, Germany
an 300 international exhibitors + + + WINDF
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ir visitors in 2012 + + +
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outlook
Dancing on the waves
Floating wind turbines are on the advance
especially there,
where the sea is so deep that conventional foundation structures reach their limit. In Japan and the US first projects are
realised as well.
Enemies of metal
Offshore wind turbines are stationed in an
unfavourable environment: the salt from seawater,
together with oxygen, form an aggressive alliance,
from which no surface can be safe. The only help
Photo: TimeMAX
lies with a proper corrosion protection.
For all eventualities
The risks in realising an offshore wind farm are tremen-
Photo: Hiscox
dous
luckily, just about anything is insurable. That way, the
money can flow, even if it may come to difficulties during
installation and operation.
The next issue will be published on September 5, 2014
For further information see www.offshorewindindustry.com
66
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keeping the course
9 – 12 september 2014
hamburg
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8 sept
finance day
9 sept
environmental protection day
10 sept
security and defence day
11 sept
offshore day
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