Equinor is to return all generators from the world’s first floating wind farm to Norway for a number of months of upkeep.
Positioned off the coast of Peterhead, the Hywind Scotland challenge is the world’s first floating offshore wind farm. Opened in 2017, the 30MW scheme consists of 5 6-MW generators and generates sufficient electrical energy to energy the equal of 34,000 UK properties.
Nonetheless Norwegian operator Equinor (OSE:EQNR) says that after greater than six years of service, operational knowledge has indicated the necessity for “heavy upkeep”.
All 5 items at the moment are set to be towed to Norway for overhaul by the Wergeland group in Gulen – the identical web site the place its Norwegian sister challenge, Hywind Tampen, was mobilised.
The 11-turbine, 88-MW Tampen challenge was accomplished final 12 months.
In an announcement the corporate added: “That is the primary such operation for a floating farm and the most secure methodology to do that is to tow the generators to shore and execute the operations in sheltered circumstances.
“We are going to do that throughout the upcoming summer time season and it’s anticipated to take three to 4 months,” although a precise date was not specified.
“Wergeland is the closest port with offshore wind expertise and adequate water depth that may service these generators. The work might be executed in shut collaboration with the turbine provider Siemens Gamesa.”
The group mentioned this is able to contain “exchanging some elements, sustaining others and utilizing the chance to do common service”, although didn’t present precise particulars.
As soon as the work is full, all items might be returned and reconnected on the web site.
Native experience missing
Trade consultants mentioned the necessity for upkeep after years at sea was “unsurprising”, however the choice to overtake all items without delay was uncommon.
Evgenia Golysheva, VP of Technique and Advertising at predictive analytics supplier Onyx Perception mentioned: “After seven years of operation, it’s unsurprising that the generators at Hywind Scotland require main part upkeep, nonetheless what’s intriguing, is the need for such heavy upkeep throughout all 5 generators on-site.
“This might recommend a extra systemic difficulty or just mirror opportunistic scheduling given the complexity of organizing these upkeep actions.”
Ms Golysheva additionally pointed to the “recurring want” to tow floating generators off the Scottish coast to different international locations, given an absence of infrastructure and abilities in Scotland.
Final 12 months a unit on the Kincardine floating wind farm, sited simply 10 miles off Aberdeen, was towed a whole lot of miles to Rotterdam for upkeep for a similar cause.
On the time Tim Choose, the UK’s former offshore wind champion, described the state of affairs as a “nationwide shame” – although the challenge’s operators mentioned native companies has been sought to make sure repairs could possibly be undertaken in situ in future.
Ms Golysheva added: “Contemplating the growing curiosity of the UK authorities in harnessing the potential of floating offshore wind for renewable era targets and know-how export alternatives, it’s clear the home infrastructure required to assist this drive is missing.”
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