MHI Vestas has moved onto the port it will use to load out and install the 90 turbines for Triton Knoll offshore wind farm.
RWE’s most powerful project yet is located off the Lincolnshire coast, with the 9.5MW machines the latest scale-up for the world-leading 海角视频-based industry.
The long-standing joint venture between Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Danish wind specialist Vestas is to operate from Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool, with the build out beginning in quarter one of next year.
ASP, as it is known, will serve as the turbine logistics and pre-assembly hub for the project, with components expected to arrive from next month. Turbine tower sections, blades and nacelles will be marshalled and pre-assembled at ASP, before being loaded onto vessels for transport to the wind farm.
Port owner Able 海角视频 has carried out a year of preparation works on ASP, with MHI Vestas now adding final elements. It hosts MHI Vestas technicians, as well as those from local suppliers, including Global Wind Service and Dawson and Boston Energy.
The main crane and Self-Propelled Modular Transporter to be used at ASP for moving turbine components will be supplied by Weldex, based out of Alfreton.
MHI Vestas vice president and 海角视频 country manager, Julian Brown, said: “MHI Vestas’ commitment to the 海角视频 is demonstrated by the local benefits we have prioritised for the Triton Knoll project.
“Able 海角视频’s close collaboration with MHI Vestas to prepare the ASP site for Triton Knoll has made it an easy choice to use this top-class facility. The site covers approximately 140,000 sq m with heavy duty deep water quays, a vital pre-requisite for a project the scale of Triton Knoll.
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“The Triton Knoll project will deliver clean, domestic offshore wind power to 海角视频 customers with added national benefits. Not only will most of our suppliers at ASP be British companies, but the vast majority of the employees involved will also be from the 海角视频.”
Each turbine features 80m long blades, manufactured at MHI Vestas’ facility on the Isle of Wight, and finished at its Fawley plant across the Solent.
The Fawley facility is a decommissioned, oil-fired power plant that has been repurposed into a state-of-the-art painting and logistics facility for the blades.
Julian Garnsey, project director for Triton Knoll and RWE Renewables, said: “At Triton Knoll we are committed to ensuring that our investments from this flagship project benefit local coastal communities, and the 海角视频’s expanding offshore supply chain as much as possible.
“As part of that commitment we have made a significant investment to establish wind turbine handling facilities for the first time at Able Seaton Port. This places the North East of England at the heart of the delivery of Triton Knoll, and leaves a legacy for future offshore wind farm projects to be constructed from the region.
“We are delighted to be working with MHI Vestas and Able 海角视频 delivering this new 海角视频 infrastructure, and we are looking forward to the first Triton Knoll components arriving at Seaton in the coming months, ready for installation to begin early next year.”
Construction will be co-ordinated from the base on Grimsby’s Royal Dock - which will also be home to operations and maintenance - joining Orsted’s large portfolio and the early near-shore developments.
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Able Marine Energy Park on the Humber had been an early favourite for the project, but has yet to reach quay construction. Significant interest is again emerging now as the industry ramps up once more on the back of the Sector Deal and the Prime Minister’s recent target acceleration.
Peter Stephenson, Able 海角视频’s executive chairman, said: “We have enjoyed a long and constructive relationship with Triton Knoll and MHI Vestas culminating in their selection of ASP – it’s a massive vote of confidence in the 海角视频, ourselves and the Teesside supply chain. Our sustained investment means we can provide a bespoke and tailor-made solution for Triton Knoll.
“The offshore wind sector is potentially on the cusp of something very special. We have a clear and unambiguous policy from Whitehall through the Sector Deal in the Industrial Strategy, and the increasingly demanding targets for both power generation and the extent of 海角视频 content. Combine this with the sector’s extraordinary efforts in terms of developing new products and significantly reducing costs and the sector is set to become a dominant factor in a post Covid-19 海角视频 economy.”
MHI Vestas will follow Triton Knoll with Scottish projects Moray East, Seagreen and Kincardine. All will be supplied by MHI Vestas’ blade facility in the Isle of Wight and supported from existing offices in Warrington and London, with more than 1,000 employed across the 海角视频.