The Jan De Nul Group’s Voltaire is set to install wind turbines in waters off China in Dec. 2022. As wind turbines continue to grow in size, the vessels used for installation must adapt accordingly.
A project known as the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, touted as the world’s largest offshore wind farm, recently achieved a significant milestone by generating its first power. Located in the North Sea off England’s northeast coast, the wind farm is not yet fully operational, but the successful installation and powering up of its first turbine is a major accomplishment.
The GE Vernova Haliade-X turbines used in the Dogger Bank Wind Farm are an impressive 260 meters tall, surpassing the height of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and have blades measuring 107 meters. Installing these massive turbines at Dogger Bank has required meticulous planning and preparation, with the Jan De Nul Group’s Voltaire playing a crucial role as a specialist installation vessel.
The Voltaire, with a lifting capacity of 3,200 metric tons, will install a total of 277 Haliade-X turbines upon completion of its work. It is considered the largest offshore jack-up installation vessel ever built, showcasing the complex logistics involved in the project.
One key factor in the Voltaire’s capability is its four legs, each measuring approximately 130 meters in length. These legs allow the vessel to elevate itself above the water’s surface, making it possible to operate in waters as deep as 80 meters. This capability is crucial for installing offshore wind turbines in deeper waters, including floating wind farms that are becoming more common.
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm, once completed, will have a total capacity of 3.6 gigawatts (GW) and can power up to six million homes annually. The project is divided into three phases: A, B, and C. There are also plans for a fourth phase, known as Dogger Bank D, which would further increase its capacity.
The use of larger turbine designs presents challenges for the offshore wind sector and projects like the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Specially designed transportation vessels are required to transport the Haliade-X turbines, which often need to be divided into sections to fit on board. The size of the turbine blades is particularly challenging, as they must be transported in a horizontal position, necessitating long transportation vessels and careful stacking.
Delays or bottlenecks in the supply chain can have costly consequences for wind farm projects. A delay in delivering turbine blades, for example, can result in significant expenses and lost revenue. Therefore, a well-run and reliable supply chain is vital for the success of offshore wind farms.
Offshore wind farms are expected to play a major role in reducing emissions and achieving net-zero goals in the future. However, to support the growth of the industry, substantial investment in the supply chain is necessary. According to Wood Mackenzie, an estimated $27 billion investment by 2026 will be required to build out supply chains in order to achieve a base case of 30GW of installations per year by 2030 (excluding China).
Delays in wind farm projects planned for the next few years can hamper the development of the supply chain and its capacity to meet future demand. It is crucial for projects in the pipeline to proceed as planned in order for the supply chain to prepare for future growth and build the necessary infrastructure.
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