OrbisEnergy Hosts RenewableUK’s Offshore Wind Event

Almost 200 senior figures from across the UK’s offshore wind industry descended upon Suffolk last week to debate the future of managing operational wind projects.

Delegates assembled to hear what lessons can be learnt from pioneering wind farm operators off the East of England coast, and the sharing of experiences and thoughts from past and potential developers which will help shape the future of the industry.

The ‘Asset Management: Reducing Cost, Addressing Risk’ conference was staged at the prestigious OrbisEnergy centre in Lowestoft, hosted by national trade body RenewableUK.

The event challenged the supply chain to rethink how operations and maintenance (O&M) can become a more integral part of planning at the design and construction phase of future windfarms. Factoring it in earlier could help substantially in reducing overall costs.

Maf Smith, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK, said he was delighted to bring such a significant event to Lowestoft which is recognised as a major hub for the offshore industry.

“There is so much going on here and we need that knowledge from the early days of Round 1 windfarms as we gradually move forward into the massive Round 3 developments off the coast here.

“We’re glad to be back at OrbisEnergy for a second time and to hear real life experience from experts in the field. It is vital that we share that knowledge.”

Jon Beresford, operations manager for E.ON’s Scroby Sands windfarm off Great Yarmouth, outlined some of challenges of setting up the UK’s first commercial windfarm.

Beresford explained how their initial approach to O&M had been hands off, leaving it principally to the turbine manufacturers. But it became clear, after the five-year warranty, that they should take responsibility for everything from cleaning to fitting new blades or gearboxes with part supply agreements now in place which substantially reduces repair costs.

Invaluable lessons also came from the more recent Greater Gabbard windfarm off Suffolk. Stephen Rose, SSE’s offshore windfarm generation manager, said they quickly found that they needed a good mix of transit vessels and the support of a helicopter to maintain maximum access to turbines in variable weather. Even then access was restricted to 60-66% of the time.

Ramon Parra, offshore O&M manager for Vattenfall, agreed that waiting time and transport time were two of the major cost drivers in O&M with 45% or more of the issues attributable to bad weather.

Parra went on to outline the logistics options for the East Anglia project potentially using a mix of Offshore Access Vessels, Crew Transfer Vessels, Offshore Access Platforms and helicopters.

For turbine manufacturer Areva Wind, UK country director Julian Brown accepted that its emphasis must be on maximum reliability and availability, better remote control, easier maintenance and having skilled people nearby and the right spare parts available when things did go wrong. In test trials offshore in 2011 its six turbines had proved 98% operational.

The company’s interest in the Round 3 projects off the region’s coast was no secret and it meant exciting prospects for the region’s supply chain. Mr Brown looked forward to a long-term involvement with Lowestoft.

Stuart Thornton, of Fred Olsen United, outlined the company’s new concept to tackle transport problems in offshore windfarm O&M – ‘a mother ship’ prototype  which would accommodate 40 people, transport parts and equipment, be a base for smaller crew transfer vessels and have stability created from being a one-time floating casino where the roulette wheel had to be consistently level!

Johnathan Reynolds, business development lead for OrbisEnergy, was delighted to see so many leading companies and experts looking to engage the regional supply chain in supporting and redefining offshore wind O&M.

“We’ve heard from major developers about the reducing costs through inventive supply chain models, the application of new technology from Scour Prevention Systems, innovative business models from 3Sun, high-growth successes such as Seajacks, and newer entrants like Fred. Olsen United.

“It’s quite something when a nationally significant conference such as this highlights the leading roles our existing and graduate OrbisEnergy tenants are playing. Leading from the front, or perhaps in our case, the East!”

Returning to Lowestoft for the second time, the conference was preceded by RenewableUK’s ‘Connect’ event, with more than 150 people attending an evening drinks and networking reception hosted by OrbisEnergy.

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Press release, March 25, 2013; Image: OrbisEnergy