Working with offshore wind
ENERGY ENGINEERING are undertaking a supplier’s survey of
available technology and expertise for the offshore wind industry
The massive expansion in the UK’s offshore wind industry envisaged in the Round 3 announcements made earlier this year hold out immense promise for the companies that succeed in winning the business involved. But alongside the promise are there also obstacles to surmount along the way? ENERGY ENGINEERING is carrying out a survey of UK companies looking to gain work in the offshore wind sector over the coming decade to gauge their feelings.
What is initially coming through strongly is that if UK companies are to benefit then action is needed from both Government and business to ensure they do. BGB Engineering, for instance, stated emphatically that the Government needs to put pressure on the major OEM’s that will win the primary equipment contracts to use UK-based suppliers. More must also be done to ensure that where direct Government funding is available to support technology development UK companies know about it. Areva T&D, for example, reported seeing the announcement of awards under schemes run by DECC and the RDAs when it was unaware of the previous calls for proposals.
But in a young industry there are bound to be growing pains. This point was made by Corus which stated that many of the necessary supply chains are still being developed and that the route to market remains unclear in many cases. It suggested that better project information in areas such as timescales and bills of material could be of great assistance.
In fact information is obviously key. Bearing system supplier Schaeffler, a company with worldwide experience in the sector, suggested that in the UK it often found it difficult to know exactly who to approach in order to try to become part of a relevant supply chain. Perhaps, suggested weather forecasting outfit Weatherquest, there should be an online B2B meeting place where companies could network with each other and establish the contacts that could lead to real business relationships.
Global Marine Systems Energy are keen to provide new cable installation vessels into this emerging market to help make up the well advertised vessel shortfall. To do this they need to have some assurances or guarantees that such a commitment will be met by a similar commitment from developers, governments and the like.
But the fundamental message was unambiguous. Without a recognised supply chain community UK companies could miss out on one of the biggest business opportunities the next 20 years is likely to provide. That community needs to be created and that will require action based on an understanding of the obstacles that will need to be surmounted.
The Energy Engineering ‘Working With Offshore Wind’ survey will gather information over the next few months to help address the issues and help meet the challenges ahead. The objective is to create a coherent national supply chain point of contact between all levels of suppliers using our www.offshore-wind.co.uk website to help facilitate this.
For details of how to be involved in the initiative please email
steve@offshore-wind.co.uk
Lead sponsors of the survey include:
Areva T&D Ltd
St Leonards Avenue
Stafford
Staffordshire ST17 4LX
www.areva.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1785 786202
Fax: +44 (0) 1785 786214
Contact: Gary Graham
Sales Manager Renewables
Tel: 07710 319350
Email: gary.n.graham@areva-td.com
Manufacture of high voltage (11kV to >800kV) electrical products for transmission and distribution networks. Manufacture of control and protection products for transmission and distribution networks. Design and supply of HVDC transmission systems. Turnkey AC and DC electrical substation projects. Electrical system network design and consultancy services. Installation, commissioning, maintenance and servicing of high voltage electrical products and systems.
BGB Engineering Ltd
357 Dysart Road
Grantham
Lincolnshire NG31 7NB
www.bgbinnovation.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1476 576280
Fax: +44 (0) 1476 561557
Contact: James Tupper
Marketing & IT Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1476 576280
Email: sales@bgbinnovation.com
European leaders in slip ring packages to the wind turbine industry - products include: · Monitoring & Power to the hub (Blade Feathering) · Power & Signal slip ring packages · Frequency converters. · Generator slip rings and brush holders · Bespoke slip ring packages · Cable looms & harnesses for turbines. · Lightning Defence & static earth dissipation systems · Brush holders · Wirefree Ethernet Bridge monitoring systems. Optilinc FORJ (a fibre optic solution which is not influenced by vibration, humidity, heat, or magnetism).
Briggs Marine &
Environmental Services
Seaforth House
Seaforth Place
Burntisland
Fife KY3 9AX
www.briggsmarine.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1592 872939
Fax: +44 (0) 1592 873779
Contact: Client Relations Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1592 872939
Email: renewables@briggsmarine.co.uk
Vessel Supply
Project Management - our engineers are experts at working in marine environment.
Marine foundations.
Submarine Cable Solutions.
Mooring Analysis and Engineering.
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
Environmental Consultancy. Including route engineering, marine consenting, project management, installation and operations support.
Oil & HNS Pollution Response. Training Services.
Corus
PO Box 1, Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN16 1BP
www.corusgroup.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1724 404040
Fax: +44 (0) 2071 986721
Contact: Dr Ann-Marie Brown
Market Development Manager - Energy
Tel: +44 (0) 1724 402208
Email: energy@corusgroup.com
Steel products including:
Profiled steel plates - used in towers and offshore foundations.
Engineering steels - used in gearboxes and drive shafts.
Electrical steels - used in generators and transformers.
Services include:
Multi-disciplinary engineering design.
Global Marine
Systems Limited
New Saxon House
1 Winsford Way
Boreham Interchange
Chelmsford
Essex CM2 5PD
www.globalmarinesystemsenergy.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1245 702000
Fax: +44 (0) 1245 702210
Contact: Ian Gaitch
Sales Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1245 702055
Email: Ian.gaitch@globalmarinesystems.com
Power cable installation for Offshore Wind Farms.
Global Marine Systems Energy delivers power cabling solutions from landfall to landfall or from landfall to offshore structures, such as windfarms, for the power and offshore renewable energy markets. For over 150 years we have been in the business of installing and maintaining all types of subsea cables. With our expertise, we help our clients reduce risk and deliver energy on time and to specifications.
Combining Unparalleled Experience and Resources to Install Offshore Power.
Global Marine Systems Energy is a division of Global Marine Systems Ltd is the largest independent provider of submarine cable installation, maintenance, and related engineering services in the world. With its resources located throughout the world Global Marine Systems brings unparalleled expertise and experience to clients in Offshore Energy, Telecommunications, and the Oil & Gas industry.
Schaeffler (UK) Ltd
Forge Lane
Minworth
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands B76 1AP
www.schaeffler.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 121 3135860
Contact: Steve Lacey
Engineering Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 121 3135860
Email: steve.lacey@schaeffler.com
Condition Monitoring Systems and Maintenance Management.
Wind Turbine Monitoring Service.
Maintenance Tools.
Lubricants and Grease Dispensers (Lubricators).
Maintenance Tools.
Rolling Element and Plain Bearings (e.g. Main rotor, gearbox, generator, pitch and yaw control).
Smart Fibres Limited
12 The Courtyard, Eastern Rd
Bracknell
Berkshire RG12 2XB
www.smartfibres.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 484111
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 423241
Contact: Matthew Powell
Business Development Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 484111
Email: matthew.powell@smartfibres.com
Fibre optic load sensing techniques.
Tensar International
Limited
Cunningham Court
Shadsworth Business Park
Blackburn
Lancashire BB1 2QX
www.tensar.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1254 262431
Fax: +44 (0) 1254 266868
Contact: David Cashman
Commercial Marketing Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1254 266804
Email: dcashman@tensar.co.uk
Tensar International is part of Tensar Corporation, a leading global developer and manufacturer of proprietary, highly engineered, non-traditional site-development solutions for infrastructure end-markets, including transportation, commercial and industrial construction. Tensar provides its customers with an integrated suite of innovative products, technologies and application expertise for a wide variety of end uses, including high performance roadways, earth retention structures, building foundations and erosion and sediment control.
Weatherquest Ltd
School of Environmental
Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich
Norfolk NR4 7TJ
www.weatherquest.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1603 507605
Fax: +44 (0) 1603 505146
Contact: Dr Steve Dorling
Innovations Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1603 507605
Email: s.dorling@uea.ac.uk
Weatherquest provide weather and wave forecasting services for many sectors, including the onshore and offshore wind energy industry, delivered by e-mail and via password-protected website. The service is designed to help developers, operators and servicers of wind farms to work efficiently and safely and to make the most of weather conditions. Telephone and/or video-conference support is available as an option, for particularly difficult decisions.
Weatherquest also undertake wind power meteorology R&D through collaboration with the industry and offer bespoke meteorology training courses which can be embedded in the client’s own training programme.
XEMC Darwind
Oude Enghweg 2
Hilversum 1217 JC
The Netherlands
www.xemc-darwind.com
Tel: +31 881151515
Contact: Daniele Calzolari
Proposal Manager
Tel: +31 881151514
Email: d.calzari@xemc-darwind.com
XEMC Darwind is developing an offshore 5MW wind turbine.
The engineering team of XEMC Darwind (50 FTE’s) produces drawings, specifications, calculations and simulations and our components are manufactured by committed suppliers who have been participating at the development of technological solutions. Our engineers’ expertise cover all fields needed to develop a multi-MW offshore wind turbine: aerodynamics, power-electronics, mechanics, structure, fluyd-thermo dynamics, etc. Erecting the DD115 prototype (summer 2010) is not the only focus, of course. XEMC Darwind deployed a team of offshore experts to ensure a successful match of technology in marine conditions. This is all possible with our strategic collaborations with well-known offshore operators, foundation designers and marine contractors.
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