The state of the Dutch offshore wind industry

A year ago I wrote in this magazine that the Dutch offshore wind industry was active somewhere in almost every offshore wind farm project in the world, but not so much in the Netherlands itself. Not because the Dutch projects were using non-Dutch companies, but simply because there was only one Dutch project, the Luchterduinen Wind Farm, that was actually in a state of practical activity, and one Dutch company, Van Oord, that had a total EPC contract with Eneco for the work. Since then the state of affairs has not changed much. Although there is authorisation for a further twelve wind farms to be built there has not been much tangible work evident in the past twelve months. We must assume that there is a lot of work going on in the background, but not much news of these wind farms is being released.

In January this year Eneco released a 50% stake in their Luchterduinen Wind Farm for the Mitsubishi Corporation to buy. The plans to use Vestas turbines remain, despite the launch this year of the Mitsubishi Sea Angel offshore wind turbine. This partnership has far-reaching advantages for Eneco, not only for this Dutch project, but it will also bring partnerships in other projects elsewhere. In April this year the transformer contract was awarded to CG, in consortium with Cofely Fabricom and Iemants, who will design, deliver and install the high voltage offshore substation. The Van Oord wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), Aeolus, being built in Hamburg at the J.J. Sietas yard with a 900 t main crane is due to enter service on the project later this year. The Luchterduinen Wind Farm is expected to be completed by August 2015 and boosts the offshore wind output in the Netherlands by 130 MW.

Typhoon Offshore has been particularly quiet about the 600 MW Gemini Project, 85 kilometres off the North Netherlands’ coast – except for the news in July that Northland Power Inc had acquired a majority stake in the project shares. Northland intends to bring a consortium of experienced offshore developers and contractors into the project. The consortium includes Typhoon Offshore B.V., Vestas, already selected by Typhoon as the proposed supplier of four MW turbines for the project, Van Oord the EPC contractor for the Eneco project, and HVC N.V., a joint venture of 48 Dutch municipalities and six water regulatory authorities.

2020: 14% renewable energy

The Dutch government made an announcement also in July. While it was not 100% positive it did affirm their confidence and participation in the 2020 targets and the renewables sector in general. The target for 2020 is 14% renewable energy, inline with the EU agreement. Their previous target of 16% is now due by 2023, which includes a total of six GW from wind energy, on and off shore, of which 4.4 GW will be from the offshore projects. Sufficient for every home in the country, but there is a lot to do in the next 9.5 years to change the current 228 MW from the Egmond and Prinses Amaliawindpark into 4.4 GW.

Other European countries have plans and projects on line. German doubts about the policy of a possible new government after their federal elections taking place on 22 September, and problems with their grid and TenneT TSO GmbH, the German daughter of the Dutch grid operator, have not encouraged activity in recent months. Progress in the UK’ s Round 3 licenses has not been as fast as was initially expected for a number of reasons. They are very large projects, and finance is not the easiest thing to arrange, although recent indications are that the UK is pulling out of the recession faster that other EU partners. Completion of large phases of wind farms such as London Array, Greater Gabbard and Lincs have boosted the UK offshore production figures. However there is a big success story to be told about Dutch participation and innovation in the offshore wind industry. The amount of Dutch activity outside of their sector of the North Sea has continued to be impressive. Dutch contractors have carried out a large portion of the work on the UK and German offshore wind projects in the last year.

Dutch success stories

New WTIVs have been delivered recently to companies in Denmark and Norway built in yards in the Far East. A Dutch success story? Oh yes, and a very big success which continues to grow. The designs of these vessels are very Dutch. Designs by GustoMSC continue to set the standard for these innovative vessels. In June, Seajacks UK Ltd announced the building contract in the Far East of what will be the largest WTIV ever built and the design of this vessel is based on the GustoMSC NG14000X. GustoMSC has plans and designs for vessels capable of installing larger foundations and larger wind turbines in deeper waters, which will soon be required.

The Strukton Hollandia JointVenture has delivered two transformer substations this year from the yard in Krimpen aan den IJssel. The Riffgat Substation was delivered in February and installed by the Seaway Heavy Lifting crane vessel Oleg Strashnov. The second one was completed in August when the same vessel installed the DanTysk Offshore Substation. In the support and survey vessel sector of the offshore wind market the Netherlands maintains an important position. The Fugro Helmert was delivered in August. The new offshore survey coastal vessel is the latest in Fugro’s fleet renewal programme and is at the leading edge of this type of purpose built survey vessels. Damen Shipyards continues with the building programme of both the 2008 and the 2610 versions of the Twin Axe Fast Crew Suppliers with recent 2610 deliveries to Denmark, Scotland and Germany. The innovative Barge Master has passed its comprehensive sea trials and is now in its first fully commercial operation, although in the oil and gas sector of offshore energy. We have been told that a second Barge Master is now being built. This motion compensation platform capable of a 700 t load, either crane or cargo, will be an extremely useful tool to have for the more distant wind farms in potentially heavier seas.

The delivery of the two Chevalier Floatel vessels, DP Galyna and DP Gezina in recent months has been reported in a previous issue and also in this issue of Maritime by Holland Magazine, both vessels are now working on offshore wind farm contracts. Designers and builders of the Motion Compensated Gangway systems installed on both these vessels, Ampelmann, has recently accepted investment from IK Investment Partners in return for a majority stake in the company. In July Jan van der Tempel, Ampelmann founder and CEO, said of this move: ”We recognise the need for a strong partner to support us in further developing and institutionalising our business. IK will help us realise the tremendous potential, building Ampelmann into a global leader.”

The Dutch input into the offshore wind market continues on track as a market leader providing the industry with what it needs when it is needed and where it is needed.

Dick Hill