In a significant development for the offshore wind industry, a consortium of companies has completed the world's first in-situ major component exchange on a floating wind turbine. Achieved at the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm near Aberdeen, Scotland, this milestone promises to revolutionize maintenance procedures and enhance the economic viability of floating wind farms.
The project brought together expertise from LiftOff, Vestas, Dragados S.A., Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (KOWL), and Cobra Wind International Limited (CWIL). By leveraging LiftOff's GenHook up-tower crane technology and Vestas' turbine expertise, the team replaced a generator on a V164-9.5MW turbine without the need for massive offshore cranes or towing the turbine to port.
This marks a departure from traditional maintenance methods, which often involve expensive and time-consuming tow-to-port operations. The new process, conducted entirely from an offshore support vessel, significantly reduces downtime, costs, and the carbon footprint associated with major repairs.
The adoption of this maintenance technique has broad implications for the floating wind sector. By eliminating the need for tow-to-port operations, this approach is expected to enhance commercial viability and minimize environmental impact.
José Polimón Olabarrieta, Dragados Project Manager and General Manager at KOWL, highlighted the importance of sharing best practices as floating offshore wind farms continue to evolve. Innovations like this on-site repair solution have the potential to drive significant improvements across the sector.
The use of up-tower crane technology, already common in onshore wind farms, has now proven its effectiveness in the challenging offshore environment. This development opens up new possibilities for floating wind turbine repairs, potentially eliminating the need for tow-to-port operations in many cases.
Eelko May, Managing Director at LiftOff, described the achievement as a "total game-changer" that will transform the industry and contribute to lowering the cost of renewable energy. The success of this project underscores the value of collaboration between expert teams and cutting-edge technologies in addressing complex challenges in the renewable energy sector.
