Shell, Vestas and OutSmart have partnered to optimise the performance of the Netherlands’ first offshore wind farm, the 108MW Egmond aan Zee.
Shell-owned NoordzeeWind is teaming up with Vestas for delivery of service solutions for the offshore wind farm, which has been operational since 2016, until the end of its life.
Vestas installed the 36 V90-3.0MW turbines at the Egmond aan Zee, servicing them from 2006 to 2016, then working on the wind farm again in 2020.
Vestas offshore wind after sales head Thorben Heuing said: “We’re pleased to now have won the competitive process for service solutions, and are delighted to be working with NoordzeeWind.
“We will maintain service, providing turbine troubleshooting and replacement of components where necessary.
“We will do so under a full-service agreement, based out of our long-term hub in IJmuiden, which has the technical service expertise needed to service Egmond aan Zee through its lifetime.”
OutSmart will ensure that the wind farm can continue to be operated profitably in its final years.
OutSmart managing director Femmy Wervers said: “OutSmart is proud to be chosen by NoordzeeWind as independent operator of offshore wind farm Egmond aan Zee.
“We will do the day-to-day operations of this project. It is our responsibility to ensure HSSE, Legal & Regulatory compliance, smooth operation of the wind farm, reacting timely on failures and to ensure contract compliance and coordination with third parties.
“OutSmart’s operations team is working 24/7 to take care of Egmond aan Zee, while operational asset availability will be ensured in our operations control centre (OCC) in Emden, Germany and operational asset management in our office in Arnhem, the Netherlands.”
Dutch King Willem Alexander opened Egmond aan Zee in 2007. Shell took 100% ownership of NoordzeeWind, and through it the wind farm, in March 2021.
The wind farm is located 10-18km off the Dutch coast and was originally built as demonstration project in 2006 to prove the viability of offshore wind in the Netherlands.
It is now one of the first wind farms to enter the later phase of its lifecycle.