Last Gemini Turbine Up

Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel Aeolus installed the last of the 150 4MW Siemens wind turbines at the 600MW Gemini offshore wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands, Tuesday evening, August 23.

“The installation of the 150th and last turbine in the wind park is a magnificent achievement,” Matthias Haag, CEO of Gemini Windpark, said.

“After the successful installation of the foundations, the offshore high voltage stations and 210 kilometers of export cables by Van Oord, also the turbine installation went according to plan. We are proud of everyone that contributed to the safe construction of Gemini.”

Contractors Van Oord and Siemens were responsible for the installation of the turbines.

“Installation of the turbines was seamless,” said Didi te Gussinklo Ohmann, Project Director, Van Oord.

“We were very pleased with the collaboration between all partners over the last year. We proudly reflect upon successful completion of a large and complex project that is contributing to the development and competitiveness of the offshore industry.”

Gemini wind farm is being jointly developed by Canada’s Northland Power (60% project interest), wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Wind Power (20%), Van Oord (10%) and renewable energy and waste processing company HVC (10%).

“Construction of the wind park continues to proceed according to plan,” said David Molenaar, division director of Siemens Wind Power Netherlands.

“We are very happy with this achievement. The turbines were transferred directly from the Esbjerg, Denmark harbor to the wind park in the North Sea. Looking ahead, once the project is operational, Siemens will be responsible for maintenance of the park over the next 15 years, utilizing mainly Dutch mechanics.”

The installation of the turbines at the site started in February 2016 when Aeolus transported the first six turbines from the port of Esbjerg and installed them at the site some 85 kilometres north of the Dutch province of Groningen.

Prior to installing the turbines, Aeolus was deployed, together with Swire Blue Ocean’s Pacific Osprey, to install the 150 turbine foundations at the wind farm.

Gemini’s first turbines started generating electricity by the end of February.

The wind farm is being built on two locations close to each other, Buitengaats and ZeeEnergie, situated some 85 kilometers from the coast of Groningen, and the full commissioning is expected in 2017.