Fred. Olsen Windcarrier has developed a new operations and maintenance (O&M) platform, called the Windbase, which includes an accommodation module, a full service base and a fully operational offshore heliport, removing the requirement for an onshore quayside facility.
The company’s UK General Manager David Matthews, who is also Project Director for Fred. Olsen Windbase, pointed out that “the beauty” of the new concept is in its through-life capability, since it could be deployed already in the construction phase, and then remain onsite until the project is re-powered or decommissioned. He added that he believes Windbase will be a “game-changer” for the industry.
An investment decision on the first full-scale version is expected in the first half of 2016.
“We’ve seen floating solutions and even man made islands proposed for projects located far from shore. E.ON’s Amrumbank offshore wind farm will use the island of Helgoland to launch its island based service concept, which will no doubt be a great success and one that Fred. Olsen Windbase will replicate across Europe,” David Matthews said.
“But new concepts must offer business case certainty and use established technologies with an experienced supplier in offshore marine contracting.”
Fred. Olsen said its Windbase incorporates a mix of facilities and capabilities that can be delivered individually or in combination with other offshore marine assets, thus creating a fixed offshore facility that offers developers a way to reduce operating costs for the next generation of wind farms built further from shore.
Image: Fred. Olsen