Chinese company Dajin Heavy Industry has won a contract to supply XXL monopile foundations for Ocean Winds’ 860MW Moray West offshore wind farm off Scotland.
Dajin Heavy Industry is a fabricator with production capacity in China of 1 million tonnes a year and is expanding with investments into Europe.
The deal, first reported in the latest issue of the subscription-only newsletter reNEWS, covers 48 monopiles using steel secured from Chinese mills.
The steel cutting for the first monopile has already started, the company said.
The structures will weigh about 2000 tonnes and have a diameter of 10 metres.
In addition, Dajin has developed a European project management team to work hand-in-hand with Moray West and its Chinese teams.
Ocean Winds is a 50:50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie.
Dajin Heavy Industry chairman and owner Jin Xin said: “The contract signing with Ocean Winds for Moray West delivery is a great team work achievement – the key milestone in Dajin’s development strategy being largest foundation fabricator for worldwide projects.
“We are extremely proud that we can contribute into decarbonised and thus better world. With our growing capacities and capabilities, we strive to support unlocking offshore wind potential globally.
“We also do understand and support local economy benefits arising from offshore wind industry, and accordingly we will continue our efforts to maximise local content for every project we participate.”
The contract together with another monopile reservation agreement signed for delivery into the EU and a deal for offshore structures for an unnamed US project has prompted an expansion of the company’s facilities.
Dajin Heavy Industry said it is developing a new 100-hectare fabrication yard in the south of China and is planning a foundation facility in Europe.
After the completion of both facilities, it will achieve an annual production capacity of 2 million tonnes.
The new facilities will focus on foundation production for next generation turbines – XXXL monopiles with a 15-metre diameter and weighing 3500 tonnes, as well jackets and floating foundations.
Ocean Winds’ Moray East project is pictured.