A significant milestone has been achieved at the Kincardine floating wind farm off the coast of Scotland, where a generator on a Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbine has been successfully replaced in what is claimed to be the world’s first in-situ major component exchange at a floating offshore wind facility.
This innovative operation was conducted using an offshore support vessel (OSV), eliminating the need to tow the turbine back to port. Crew transfer vessels (CTVs) assisted in the process, showcasing a new approach to maintenance in the renewables sector.
The project involved collaboration among several companies, including LiftOff, Vestas, Kincardine owner Dragados S.A., and Cobra Wind International. José Polimón Olabarrieta, General Manager of Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (KOWL), emphasized the achievement, stating, “By pushing the boundaries of innovation and improving existing processes, we have developed a world-first technical solution that redefines the future for the renewables industry.”
To facilitate the generator replacement, a GenHook up-tower crane, supplied by the Netherlands-based LiftOff, was temporarily installed on top of the turbine. Vestas prepared the turbine by decommissioning the old generator, which LiftOff then lifted from the nacelle and lowered onto the deck of the floating platform. The new generator was subsequently transferred to the floater and lifted back into the nacelle using the GenHook crane.
“This innovative in-situ solution demonstrates that alternative methods to towing are not just theoretical but have been proven effective,” said Thore Abel, Vestas director for global service contracting. He noted that this advancement could enhance the feasibility of floating wind projects globally and encourage continued innovation in the industry.
Located 15 kilometers off the coast of Aberdeen, the Kincardine floating wind farm has a capacity of 50 MW, featuring five Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines and one V80-2 MW turbine, all mounted on WindFloat semi-submersible platforms designed by Principle Power. Since their installation in October 2021, these turbines have been generating clean energy in water depths ranging from 60 to 80 meters.
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