TSC Offshore Corporation, a subsidiary of CMIC Ocean En-Tech Holding, and Offshoretronic are working together to commercialise an alternative installation technology for next-generation offshore wind turbines and monopiles.
Their MoU covers a solution that has been developed to support installation of next generation offshore wind turbines between 15-20MW capacities, expected to enter into the market in 2024-2030 and installed in water depths of 40-70 metres.
This will require a new generation of monopiles with 100-130 metres in length, 12-15 metres in outer diameter and weights of up to 5000 metric tonnes.
Transportation and installation of monopiles typically make up 1-4 days of the installation cycle time and contribute on average 20% of the cost of the turbine installation, mainly due to the need to deploy high-cost vessels with heavy lift cranes to install monopiles safely and effectively.
These cranes, which are limited in supply, expensive and require long lead delivery time, can impact offshore wind project deliver timescales, the partners said.
Offshoretronic’s solution is a tilting and lifting beam plus roll-on concept aims to reduce costs and time required, as well as reduce operational risks during loading in port, up-ending, lifting and installation offshore.
The solution is designed to be installed on a mobile elevated platform (Jack-up platform) and has been showcased in a concept vessel, Vitruvian, which is able to transport and install monopiles up to 5000 mt.