Fredericia, Denmark-based A2SEA says the first turbine for DONG Energy’s 258 MW Burbo Bank Extension project, located off the coast of Liverpool Bay, in the U.K., has been installed.
According to A2SEA, this is the first time ever that the biggest turbine on the market – the MHI Vestas 8 MW – has been installed offshore.
The first turbine out of the total 32 MHI Vestas 8 MW turbines was installed safely on Sept. 8 by the crew on board SEA INSTALLER. For the next months, the vessel will install the turbines being shipped from Belfast. A2SEA notes that the SEA INSTALLER is able to carry four 8 MW turbines at a time.
“This is the first time, ever, MHI Vestas’ 8 MW turbine has been installed offshore. We used their new patented lifting tool and our newly extended boom. Our experienced crew did a great job in both handling the new equipment and the new components. Furthermore, the teamwork between A2SEA and MHI Vestas went very smoothly and effectively. Now, we look forward to installing the remaining 31 turbines,” said Jan Riisgaard, master on board SEA INSTALLER.
Burbo Bank Extension, situated 6 kilometers from shore, is expected to be fully commissioned in the first half of 2017 and will provide green energy for well over 230,000 homes in the U.K.
Since its foundation in 2000, A2SEA says it has installed approximately 50% of the world’s offshore wind turbines. A2SEA recently completed installing turbines on Gode Wind 2+1. Upcoming projects include turbine installation on the Dudgeon offshore wind farm (OWF), Race Bank OWF, Arkona OWF, Hornsea Project One and Horns Rev 3.
Photo courtesy of DONG Energy
