Orsted to revolutionise technician turbine transfers on Hornsea Two
‘GET UP SAFE’ TECHNOLOGY TO BE DEPLOYED ON EVERY TURBINE
OFFSHORE technician transfers are to be revolutionised by Orsted on the next world-leading wind farm, after technology it backed at an early stage is deployed. The company has signed a multimillion pound deal with Scottish engineering innovator Pict Offshore to use a motion-compensated lifted system at Hornsea Two offshore wind farm.
It will eliminate a 20m ladder climb, and the ladder itself, improving safety by removing the precarious step between vessel bow and turbine, while reducing steelwork requirements, streamlining construction.
The Get Up Safe system is being fitted on all 165 turbine foundations. It means the Grimsby teams operating and maintaining the huge structures will be lifted from and lowered to crew transfer vessels, if not using the walk-to-work gangways on the larger support boats.
Orsted took a 22.5 per cent stake in Fife-headquartered Pict in September last year, after collaborating for more than two years prior. Duncan Clark, head of UK region at Ørsted, said: “Innovation continues to be a key driver behind the success of offshore wind and the UK is leading the way through engineering innovators like Pict Offshore. Hornsea Two is set to be another ground-breaking offshore wind project and showcases how far the industry has come in terms of size, scale, knowledge and ambition. “At the heart of this ingenious engineering is safety and the GUS system is a pioneering example of how new technology is helping to ensure the wellbeing of our technicians and project teams.”
The Royal Dock-based teams will be first to benefit from an active heave compensation function, a laser-guided operation that tracks the motion of the vessel deck and automatically adjusts the line position to ensure that technicians are always kept safe, even if the vessel is moving in variable wave and weather conditions.
Hornsea One’s first foundation was installed earlier this month, with the campaign to continue through 2021.
To meet the initial demand, this year Pict has doubled headcount from 14 to 29 at the Inverkeithing base, adding production and manufacturing capability. Managing director Philip Taylor, said: “With this deployment, Ørsted is living up to its reputation as a visionary renewable energy player. “The decision to deploy the GUS system at Hornsea Two is a bold and transformative move designed to both increase safety and reduce costs for the next generation of offshore wind farms.
“With other offshore wind developers now taking a strong interest in the system, we hope that it’s a vision that will be shared by the industry.”
With this deployment, Ørsted is living up to its reputation as a visionary renewable energy player
Managing director Philip Taylor