‘World’s First’ In-Situ Generator Swap on Floating Wind Turbine Completed Offshore Scotland

September 20, 2024, by Adnan Memija

A generator on a turbine at the Kincardine floating wind farm off the coast of Scotland has been replaced, in what is being claimed as the “world’s first” in-situ major component exchange at a floating offshore wind farm.

The work on the Vestas V164-9.5 MW wind turbine was carried out using an offshore support vessel (OSV) without the need to tow the unit back to a port, and was supported by crew transfer vessels (CTVs).

Several companies were included in the process, including LiftOff, Vestas, Kincardine owner Dragados S.A., and Cobra Wind International.

“By pushing the boundaries of innovation and embracing the requirement to improve previous processes, we have achieved a world-first technical solution that redefines the future for the renewables industry”, said José Polimón Olabarrieta, General Manager at Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (KOWL).

To perform the process, a GenHook up-tower crane, supplied by the Netherlands-based LiftOff, was temporarily installed atop the Vestas turbine.

After Vestas prepared the wind turbine generator and decommissioned the old one, LifOff lifted it from the nacelle and lowered it to the deck of the floater, where it was then transferred to the OSV.

Using the same methodology, the replacement generator was then transferred to the floater and lifted into the nacelle using the GenHook crane.

“This innovative in-situ solution, using an up-tower crane on a geared Vestas turbine, showcases that alternative means to towing activities are no longer just possible on paper or in animations, but a proven solution. This can pave the way to viable improvements in feasibility of floating wind projects around the world and should encourage the industry to continue its innovative approach”, said Thore Abel, Vestas director for global service contracting.

Located 15 kilometres off the coast of Aberdeen, the 50 MW Kincardine floating offshore wind farm consists of five Vestas V164-9.5 MW and one V80-2 MW turbine, each installed on WindFloat semi-submersible platforms designed by Principle Power.

Positioned in water depths ranging from 60 metres to 80 metres, these turbines have been successfully generating clean energy since October 2021.