By Hans Schneider
With the notable exception of Siemens Wind Power’s 3.6 MW turbines, the blades of today’s offshore wind turbines are typically pre-assembled into a single rotor component before being loaded onto a vessel and sailed out to their final destination. Continue reading
Two leading figures at the forefront of foundation developments speak out on the viability of XL and XXL monopiles. Continue reading
By Glen Andresen, Senior Manager, Project Engineering
A2SEA has done plenty of mobilisations over the years. But never one quite like the recent makeover of SEA INSTALLER for West of Duddon Sands. It was the biggest mobilisation we have ever attempted – both in time, in effort and in the sheer number of people involved. Continue reading
By Hans Peter Johannsen, Senior Project Manager and Head of Engineering
Many thousands of jack-up operations. No leg bends, no punch-throughs. It’s an achievement that goes against the laws of nature. Yet sure-footed legwork over more than a decade is a key A2SEA competency – and proof that the impossible really can be done. Continue reading
By Steen H. Drue, Project Manager, A2SEA A/S
“Where there’s a team, there’s a way.” At least, that’s how the more traditional saying might have sounded if it had originated on the job at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm in the Irish Sea. Actually, there’s not just one team involved, but several, all working together. Continue reading
By Steen Drue, Project Manager, A2SEA A/S
Turbine installation work at Gwynt y Môr began on April 30 when SEA JACK started work loading components for the very first of 160 turbine locations. Seven weeks later, SEA WORKER departed from Grenaa, Denmark, headed for the port of Mostyn to join the installation teamwork. In June, the two vessels began working ”side-by-side”, although, in reality, they only occasionally pass each other on the water. Continue reading
24 hours to dock, load and sail. 12 hours to get into position and install. 24 hours to commission. In at least 12 m/s of wind speed. We asked turbine manufacturer Siemens Wind Power how it is addressing the last element in A2SEA’s vision. Continue reading
By Malte Bruun, Master, SEA INSTALLER
One of the most exciting – and promising – parts of SEA INSTALLER’s design has always been its positioning and propulsion system. And, now that the vessel has been hard at work for the past six months, we’ve had a chance to see how this system works in the real world of wind turbine installation. Continue reading
Designed on the basis of the knowledge and experience gained from installing over 800 turbines and more than 400 foundations, A2SEA’s SEA INSTALLER is one of the offshore wind industry’s most sophisticated installation vessels. To find out what makes the SEA INSTALLER so special, we talked to Hans Peter Johannsen, Head of Engineering and Senior Project Manager at A2SEA. Continue reading
With offshore wind developments in the UK currently generating more power than the rest of Europe combined, and a strong pipeline of projects planned for the coming decade, offshore wind has become a major element in the UK energy mix.
In the Irish Sea, home to two of the Round 3 zones, locating a harbour with enough storage capacity to stock huge turbines and foundations, and deep enough for large installation vessels to operate, were two major challenges facing both DONG Energy and RWE. Continue reading