Introducing
In offshore wind decommissioning means disconnecting and dismantling wind turbines that are at the end of their lifecycle. They are disconnected from their moorings and cables and towed back to port where they are dismantled into smaller components. These are either fit for reuse, recycling, or disposal. Although decommissioning is a much faster process than commissioning, or installing, wind turbines, it is a process that requires high-end customized engineering.
Alternatively, lifespan extension aims at prolonging the operational life of offshore wind turbines. Well thought-out maintenance plans supported by smart engineering prevent the decommissioning of wind turbines. Although fairly new, this development cannot be reversed and challenges the maritime engineering industry to invent new solutions.
Saltwater Engineering has designed a purpose-built Service Operations Vessel (SOV) for the offshore wind market. The SOV bases on the fact that offshore wind turbine service operations take longer because distances from ports to wind farm locations increase. The SOV has a sailing speed of 10kn with a maximum speed of 12kn and is compatible with a charge buoy.
Saltwater wholeheartedly supports the idea that decommissioning is least sustainable solution. Alternatively, offshore wind turbines should be kept turning and profitable by extending their expected life span. Today, offshore wind turbine owners and operators increasingly focus on ways to extend the life of their assets. With a proper life extension strategy in place the working life of wind turbines can be prolonged up to 25%, which is of great economic value.
Life extension of offshore wind turbines and the accompanying components fits in with the global urge to prevent the exhaustion of natural resources and to develop a circular economy. Supported by an industrial system aimed at life expansion, the circular economy will ultimately help reduce CO2 emission.
The Saltwater SOV design perfectly fits in with the intermediate steps to reach the life extending goal for offshore wind parks. With crew and components transported to offshore wind farms efficiently and reliably important steps can be taken.
“We anticipate a massive growth in the sector of wind-, solar energy, open ocean aquaculture and other similar sustainable sectors of the industry where specialized assets such as survey-, construction- and maintenance vessels are required.”
Market outlook
The market appears highly promising, with continual advancements in technology and a growing commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Read more about Saltwater’s outlook on the different impacted market segments.
The expertise of Saltwater in practice
