ORBISENERGY EVENT
FUTURE OF UK OFFSHORE WIND IN THE SPOTLIGHT
ALMOST 200 SENIOR FIGURES FROM ACROSS THE UK’S OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY DESCENDED UPON SUFFOLK RECENTLY TO DEBATE THE FUTURE OF MANAGING OPERATIONAL WIND PROJECTS.
Delegates assembled to hear what lessons can be learnt from pioneering wind farm operators off the East of England coast, and the sharing of experiences and thoughts from past and potential developers which will help shape the future of the industry.
ORBISENERGY CENTRE
The ‘Asset Management: Reducing Cost, Addressing Risk’ conference was staged at the prestigious orbisEnergy centre in Lowestoft, hosted by national trade body RenewableUK.
The event challenged the supply chain to re-think how operations and maintenance (O&M) can become a more integral part of planning at the design and construction phase of future windfarms. Factoring it in earlier could help substantially in reducing overall costs.
HOSTS RENEWABLEUK
Maf Smith, deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK, said he was delighted to bring such a significant event to Lowestoft which is recognised as a major hub for the offshore industry.
“There is so much going on here and we need that knowledge from the early days of Round 1 windfarms as we gradually move forward into the massive Round 3 developments off the coast here.
“We’re glad to be back at OrbisEnergy for a second time and to hear real life experiences from experts in the field. It is vital that we share that knowledge.”
EARLY CHALLENGES
Jon Beresford, Operations Manager for E.oN’s Scroby Sands windfarm off Great Yarmouth, outlined some of challenges of setting up the UK’s first commercial windfarm.
beresford explained how their initial approach to O&M had been hands off, leaving it principally to the turbine manufacturers. But it became clear, after the five-year warranty, that they should take responsibility for everything from cleaning to fitting new blades or gearboxes with part supply agreements now in place which substantially reduces repair costs.
LESSONS LEARNED
Invaluable lessons also came from the more recent Greater Gabbard windfarm off Suffolk. Stephen Rose, SSE’s offshore windfarm Generation Manager, said they quickly found that they needed a good mix of transit vessels and the support of a helicopter to maintain maximum access to turbines in variable weather. Even then access was restricted to 60-66% of the time.
Ramon parra, offshore o&M Manager for Vattenfall, agreed that waiting time and transport time were two of the major cost drivers in o&M with 45% or more of the issues attributable to bad weather.
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