DONG and MHI Vestas Practising for Burbo Bank Extension

DONG Energy and MHI Vestas Offshore Wind have jointly installed a V164-8.0 MW wind turbine test tower and foundation onshore to test several installation and commissioning procedures, and to act as a critical training tool before the commencement of Burbo Bank Extension offshore installation.

In order to further test installation and commissioning procedures, the interfaces between the tower and transition piece, and enhance their technician training capabilities, MHI Vestas and DONG Energy have jointly invested in installing a reference tower for the V164-8.0 MW on top of a shortened version of the transition piece.

The 97-metre high tower was installed opposite the MHI Vestas nacelle factory at the Lindø Industrial Park, on the Danish island of Fuenen and is expected to be in place for up to two years.

The tower and foundation are replicas of those that will be installed at Burbo Bank Extension, and the process has already resulted in a significant reduction in the commissioning phase of the tower, MHI Vestas said.

Claus Bøjle Møller, DONG Energy’s Project Director for Burbo Bank Extension, said: “As Burbo Bank Extension will be utilising the biggest wind turbines in the world, it is important that we are as prepared as possible before installation begins. The test tower and transition piece will allow us to avoid potentially costly interface misalignments, and to maximise efficiency and safety procedures during offshore construction of cables, foundations and turbines as well.”

The tower will initially be used by MHI Vestas to optimise the pre-assembly process, which will take place in Belfast during the coming months. Later in the year, service technicians will use the tower as a training aid for preparation for service at both the Burbo Bank Extension, and Walney Extension projects. In addition, DONG Energy and its contractors will use the test facility to prepare for foundation and cable installation.

Rasmus Ravn, Project Director at MHI Vestas, said: “Investing in the test tower has further underlined the high value both MHI Vestas and DONG Energy place on testing our processes and interfaces before we begin offshore installation of Burbo Bank Extension.”

The 258 MW Burbo Bank Extension project lies off the coast of Liverpool Bay, in the UK. When installed the 32 wind turbines will produce enough energy to meet the electricity requirements for approximately 180,000 houses, approximately 30 percent of the greater Liverpool area.

The contract with MHI Vestas includes supply, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines as well as a five year full scope service contract. Installation begins in autumn 2016, and commissioning is expected to be completed in 2017.