FLOATING WIND
ASSEMBLY Modern 1,000t nacelles need to be installed 170m in the air; sometimes as far as 55m from the quay edge. This means that even when assembling from dry land, one of the world’s largest crawler or super heavy lift cranes is required to complete the job. Mammoet’s largest cranes are the perfect solution to these challenges, able to take on heights of 175m and with a maximum reach of 144m. Using Mammoet’s LR 13000, PTC or SK ranges of cranes allows ports and developers to shift spending on lift procedures into operational rather than capital expenditure, turning the smallest of ports into a functioning heavy lift terminal for the duration of each project.
Some of our floating wind services typically include, but are not limited to: • Transportation of foundation sections during fabrication • Storage and marshaling of foundations at port • Load-out of floating foundations via SPMT • Assembly of turbines at port using large crawler or ring cranes • Ground strengthening, and the creation of additional storage space • Transport and handling of turbine sections
FABRICATION Fabrication facilities will face demand to increase production rates as the sector grows, whilst at the same time managing the increased storage and logistics demands of large-scale modules. There are limited dry docks of suitable size to get these structures in the water, neither is a slipway launch appropriate for such huge objects. So, fabrication sites will need a large draft, or the yard space needed to support crane launching. Mammoet’s extensive experience of huge load-outs elsewhere in heavy industry is a proven advantage for the fabrication of floating turbines; assisting clients to spread the risk and increase the cost-effectiveness of projects by providing load-outs worldwide. AT THE PORT Ports also face similar challenges around the size of components and both the scale and growing number of projects. Many will need to upgrade to deliver the required large areas of land, good maritime access and necessary ground capacity. Project-based upgrades that can deliver the required capabilities using operational rather than capital expenditure will be the preferred option. We have helped major ports to develop their facilities with offshore wind in mind, providing additional space and ground reinforcement to marshal and store offshore wind components. Also, through innovations such as our SK6,000 crane, we provide temporary lift capacity, on-site only when it is needed.
LAUNCHING With weights of anything between 3,000t and 16,000t, the launch of floating substructures is far from simple. The key challenge is to find a safe, cost-efficient and scalable method for placing large units in the water. One common approach has been the use of semi-submersible vessels, with components rolled onto the vessel using SPMTs. However, the time needed to prepare floaters for launch is significant, so this approach may not be cost-effective at scale, due to the time the vessel would lie idle. Using a heavy lift crane allows smaller foun- dations to be placed directly into the water, cutting down several shifts of work to a single day. This method mitigates the impact of swell on launching and requires a shallower draft than semi-submersible options, opening up more locations. It also reduces the require- ment for specialized fastening and equipment when launching foundations.
F loating wind offers the fastest route to 2030 emissions targets. As a maturing technology, there is not yet a standard implementation proven at commercial scale. Mammoet is committed to bringing a proven, flexible approach in helping this exciting field to realize its potential. The sheer space required to build floating foundations will be a challenge for existing fabrication facilities – this will open the market to new entrants across the globe. Floating foundations are expected to grow to a footprint of 10,000m 2 and 16,000t, so need considerable infrastructure to handle them. As the sector matures, these modules will need to be fabricated, transported and launched in
locations all over the world. This will require feats of engineering never before seen in the renewables sector – and further intensify pressures on time and space. As turbines reach higher, innovations such as the SK6,000 will allow assembly to continue next to the quay, where it is most efficient. When maintenance events occur, our gantry solutions allow for fast repair at the turbine site, avoiding downtime while a suitable crane vessel is found. Our offshore services team has transferred some of the world’s largest structures between land and sea; constantly innovating to find a way into the water that is most efficient, safe and cost-effective.
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