Lessons in Offshore Wind

Offshore wind installation is outpacing onshore wind development in Europe and creating intense pressure on the existing supply chain, according to a recent market report by renewable energy consultancy GL (Germanischer Lloyd) Garrad Hassan. Off the European coast, 1.5 gigawatts of wind turbines are already producing energy and another 100 gigawatts are in planning and development stages.

According to GL, plans to install approximately 800 foundations and wind turbines through 2020 could lead to a shortage of installation vessels. Additionally, turbines and towers are growing ever-larger. The next generation is expected to be between three and five megawatts, which will require even more specialized vessels.

A seminar on offshore wind conducted earlier this week in Hamburg by GL examined these industry challenges and other potential bottlenecks including regulatory challenges and shortages of turbine suppliers, transformers and experienced personnel.

During the seminar Samsung Heavy Industries presented a new wind turbine installation barge and Beluga Hochtief Offshore presented its next-generation installation vessel capable of handling wind turbines of more than 5 megawatts in deep waters. Additionally, BLM discussed rack and pinion systems used for jacking up self-elevating units such as installation vessels and Huisman discussed specialized offshore cranes.

Accompanying photo is of 2-megawatt turbines at Middelgrunden Wind Farm off the Danish coast.