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Ro/Ro loading for Rentel turbines

By: Matthew White 20/03/2018 Siemens Gamesa

General Windfarms

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has implemented its offshore logistics concept, after the establishment of a blade plant in the harbour of Hull, England in 2016 and the opening of a nacelle factory in Cuxhaven, Germany in 2017. The company eliminated road transportation of large and heavy wind turbine components from factories to installation harbours. With the first load of nacelles shipped from Cuxhaven to the Belgian offshore wind power plant Rentel on the purpose-built transport ship Rotra Vente, SGRE's Ro/Ro logistics concept is now functional. According to SGRE the new method increases safety while saving approximately 20 percent in logistics costs.

One element of this transport solution is the link between Siemens Gamesa's offshore production locations in Cuxhaven, Germany, and Hull, England, provided by two purpose-built transport vessels. Another is the process of loading and unloading these ships: Instead of lifting tower sections and nacelles by crane, the components are rolled on and off of these vessels. This "Roll-on/Roll-off" process is known as Ro/Ro. Along with deugro, an international forwarder in the capital project and heavy lift field, SGRE have built upon Ro/Ro.

Tailor-made transport frames are used to store and move the nacelles. These transport structures are mounted under the bedframe of the nacelles, and can be carried by Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs). These self-lifting, motorised units are remotely controlled by operators.

The two transport vessels, each with a length of approximately 140m, are also operated by deugro Danmark A/S for Siemens Gamesa. The Rotra Vente, which has now been loaded in Cuxhaven can transport eight nacelles of the current Siemens Gamesa Direct Drive wind turbine at a time. The second vessel, the Rotra Mare, accommodates three complete wind turbine towers of three sections each or up to 12 rotor blades and transports them from the production facility in Hull, England, or from Aalborg, Denmark, to the respective installation port. Both vessels can also be unloaded by crane if required. This supposedly enhances the flexibility of the installation ports, which are selected according to project-specific requirements. Currently both ships use the Ro/Ro capabilities of the harbours on their routes between the UK, Denmark, and Germany to the Rentel installation port in Ostend, Belgium.

Since inauguration in November 2016 the two transport vessels are integrated into SGRE's value chain: More than 130 voyages have been made. SGRE stated that both ships delivered components for more than 250 wind turbines to eight different offshore wind power plants. Thanks to Ro/Ro loading, more than 2,000 lifts has been mitigated.

"As our manufacturing footprint and logistics concepts continue to mature, we make additional progress on lowering the Levelized Cost of Energy for offshore wind," states Andreas Nauen, CEO Offshore at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. "We're able to deliver these components more safely and more efficiently by eliminating crane lifts. The experiences we have made over the last month confirm that the expected savings of up to 20 percent in logistics costs compared to traditional transport procedures will be fully met".

SGRE stated that over the next weeks, Siemens Gamesa will provide all 42 SWT-7.0-154 turbines for the Rentel offshore wind power plant, they are planned to be preassembled and installed together with the towers and nacelles from the recently opened installation facility in the Belgian harbor of Ostend. SGRE also plan to service the Rentel offshore power plant from Ostend, where a service office is currently under construction. Full commissioning of the Rentel project is expected later this year. The Cuxhaven nacelle plant aims to deliver the nacelles to the 588MW Beatrice wind power plant and the 1,218 MW Hornsea One project , both of which are located in the British North Sea.

SGRE was recently selected as preferred turbine supplier for the Mermaid and Seastar offshore wind farms off the coast of Belgium. The two projects will comprise of 58 turbines, with a rotor diameter of 167m, mounted on monopile foundations. They will connect to two offshore substations and power will be exported to shore via Elia’s Modular Offshore Grid. Combined, the projects are expected to provide electricity for up to 485,000 households. Ostend will serve as offshore hub for both projects which are expected to be operational from 2020.

For more information please follow the links provided. Alternatively, click here for 4C Offshore's interactive map of interconnectors and offshore wind farms.

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Ro/Ro loading for Rentel turbines

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