Technology harnesses wind
The Arkona offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea is being built about 35 km from the German island of Rügen. It will be ready much faster than was envisaged, thanks to 3D technology, according to E·On and Statoil, the two energy corporations building it.
The Baltic Sea wind farm called Arkona, which consists of 60 wind power units offering a total performance of approximately 385 MW, has got some strong wind in its sails. It is thus progressing faster than originally envisaged, according to E·On and Statoil, who are realising the project as a joint venture.
One of the reasons for this momentum is the deployment of a three-dimensional seismic analysis of the seabed, which was in action for the first time in Germany. It provided important data on the sediment structure at the building site; one of the benefits thereof was the elimination of the need to call in drilling equipment.
Jumbo Offshore takes the next step
Now the Rotterdam-based Dutch Jumbo Maritime Group has announced that it has completed a task for the installation of 60 transition pieces at the site. These parts are the connecting units between the monopile foundations anchored at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and the towers, atop of which sit the turbines. Jumbo Offshore was contracted for this task by the Dutch dredging company Van Oord. Jumbo transported the 400 t units from the port of Mukran on the island of Rügen to the site and mounted them there.
The Rotterdam-based heavylift specialist Jumbo Shipping deployed one of its special heavylift vessels for this job, the Fairplayer. It is specially equipped to serve the offshore energy sector’s requirements worldwide, the shipping line stated.
The Fairplayer has two heavylift cranes with a lifting capacity of 900 t each, which means that in tandem operations they can lift no less than 1,800 t. Over and above this the freighter, which is 144 m long and 26.7 m wide, is also equipped with the DP2 positioning system, which enables it to carry out the its work whilst remaining in location at one pre-determined point without any problem and for longer periods. Its main deck alone offers a working area of 3,100 sqm. It can provide no less than 80 people with a temporary home, and in an emergency they can even receive medical care on board.
Due to be commissioned in 2019
The Arkona wind farm is expected to provide around 400,000 households with clean electricity from next year. E·On and Statoil have pointed out that, in comparison with power generated by conventional power stations, the facility will save up to 1.2 million t of greenhouse-gas emissions annually.
The two partners have already invested about EUR 1.2 billion in the project. When it becomes operational the German energy corporation E·On will become the first company to operate offshore wind farms in both the North Sea as well as the Baltic Sea. E·On said that up to 400 employees are involved offshore in the Arkona project, as well as a further 100 for installation work.