Q10 Offshore Wind Project Obtains Subsidy from Dutch Authorities

The Q10 project has obtained a subsidy from the Dutch authorities under the provision that innovative elements will be included in the wind farm such as for example the installation and testing of one, two, or three innovative Wind Turbine Generators (WTG’s).

WTG of minimum 4 MW will need to be:

1. certified as a Prototype Class C onshore WTG according to the IEC Type Certification System at the time of contract signing,

2. producing power to the grid on at least one onshore location at the time of application for pre-qualification for this tender,

3. out of serial production,

4. with a maximum rotor diameter of 115m.

WTG’s that are already fully certified and commercially available are not considered to be innovative.

The base case for the Q10 offshore wind farm consists of 43 Vestas V112 WTG’s on monopile foundations which are connected via medium voltage cables to an Offshore High Voltage Station (OHVS).

In the event innovative WTG’s are being installed at Q10 up to three base case 3MW WTG’s will be replaced by one, two or three innovative WTG’s with a maximum rotor diameter of 115 meters and implemented at the Q10 site on suitable foundations (not limited to a monopile type).

The contract for the innovative WTG’s shall include:

• Design, supply, installation and commissioning of the WTG’s;
• Operation and maintenance services;
• Design of the complete support structure, starting at the nacelle and ending at lowest part of the support structure in the seabed.

After completion and installation of the WTG’s, the economic operator shall operate the WTG’s for its risk and account for a period to be agreed upon in the contract. If that period is shorter than 15 years, the contracting entity shall accept and take over the WTG’s (subject to certain conditions included in the contract) and the economic operator shall perform operation and maintenance services on the WTG’s for the remainder of the 15 year period.

Dismantling of the WTG’s may also be part of the scope of the contract.

The draft contract including the payment mechanism (which may be based on any of or a combination of payments for the electricity actually supplied by the WTG’s and a payment for the works) will be provided to the prequalified candidates.

The turbine installation vessel will be free issued by the Contracting Entity under the provision that the installation requirements are within the limits of the installation vessel that will be used for the conventional wind park by Contracting Entity; else Tenderer will have to procure its own turbine installation vessel.

Supply and installation of the foundation may be provided by a nominated contractor of the Contracting Entity under the provision that the installation requirements are within the limits of the installation vessel that will be used for the conventional wind park by Contracting Entity; else Tenderer will have to procure its own foundation installation vessel.

Depending on the result of the tender proposals Contracting Entity may decide not to implement innovative WTG’s at Q10 site at all.

The Contracting Entity will in any event not implement the innovative WGT’s at Q10 site if the subsidy requirements are not met.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, January 27, 2012