i4Offshore

Significantly reducing the cost of offshore wind

Newsletter – Summer 2019

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1. Video: EUDP frontrunner project: Industrialized suction buckets stood the test at sea

The industrialized suction bucket concept that will be used on the full-scale demonstration in i4Offshore has been trialed and tested with success. The tests at sea were conducted as part of the standalone EUDP project “Offshore wind suction bucket on an industrial scale – Part 2 Trial Installation”, which focuses specifically on the suction bucket seabed interface forming a critical part of the technology roadmap leading up to i4Offshore.

Watch video: Industrializing a game changer

The offshore trials were successfully completed over a 2 week offshore campaign, where a total of 13 installation cycles were performed. The results of the project are expected to be directly transferable to i4Offshore.

The project objectives for the trial installation have been:

  • Conduct preliminary assessments
  • Prepare suction bucket for test installation
  • Demonstrate on-site test installation on different geological conditions
  • Analyze and validate data

With the trial installation complete the last outstanding part is the analysis and validation of data under (objective #4).
The results of the project are expected to be directly transferable to i4Offshore.

2. Design process kicked off

The preliminary design process was kicked off with Olav Olsen during February 2019. So far, a preliminary design basis containing turbine properties, turbine extreme loads and environmental key data has been established. A conceptual jacket design with a two-bays framing has likewise been established.

For the coming period the following work is outlined:

  • Functional requirements
  • Design basis part C
  • Design briefs
  • Preliminary bucket design






3. Meet the i4Offshore partners: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (Siemens Gamesa), a leader in the renewable energy industry, is striving to provide the best offshore and onshore wind turbines and services in the world.

Siemens Gamesa is leading the H2020 i4Offshore project – a project which provides the opportunity to introduce and demonstrate the next generation of cost-effective and innovative +10MW-class wind turbines to the market.

By the end of the project period, the i4Offshore project’s objective is to have reduced the levelized cost of energy (LCoE) to a level whereby offshore wind will become the natural choice for energy solution developers. The project will help pave the way for using offshore wind for new energy forms, which is in addition to the current energy mix. Furthermore, the project will test installation solutions with a minimal environmental footprint.

Siemens Gamesa in the role of project coordinator is included in all work packages, and responsible for the economic evaluation of GW-scale offshore wind farms drawing on all the value-chain innovations from the project. This will pave the way for future job-creation and for more attractive products providing an even better business case for Siemens Gamesa clients e.g. Vattenfall.

In Denmark, Siemens Gamesa has several production and R&D facilities along with supply chain management, sales and project management. In the town of Brande, which is also the base office for the i4Offshore coordination team, Siemens Gamesa is developing and manufacturing components such as the nacelles and hubs for both onshore and offshore wind turbines.

4. Minister of Energy visits Aalborg University to learn about energy research

The former Danish Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, paid a visit to Aalborg University (AAU) to learn about research in consumer data, sustainable aviation fuel as well as the i4Offshore project. I4Offshore representatives briefed the minister on the succession of previous research projects, which ultimately led to the i4Offshore project.

One of the key messages conveyed to the minister is the necessity of national public funding for industry and research to even come into consideration for megasize EU-funded projects. Another point made was that industry have to work together in order to solve the cost issues on the Business to Public side of Offshore wind farms.

To read more about the visit head over to aau.dk.

5. Project Management update

First i4Offshore semi annual project meeting in Oslo, Norway

Great energy at the first bi-annual project meeting. There were many interesting discussions among project partners on the technical complexities and challenges of a state of the art EU #H2020 project on future #Offshorewind solutions.

Great energy at the first bi-annual project meeting. There were many interesting discussions among project partners on the technical complexities and challenges of a state of the art EU #H2020 project on future #Offshorewind solutions.

Please welcome two additions to the i4Offshore Project Management team

Thomas Hjort West, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Technical Project Manager on the i4Offshore project. Thomas West has a professional background in engineering and over 10 years of experience in foundation package management in relation to Offshore Wind Foundation from projects in SGRE, MT Højgaard and consulting companies.

Carina Jensen, Aalborg University, Project Manager on the i4Offshore project. Carina Jensen holds a Master’s Degree in biomedical engineering (2011) and a PhD degree in Medical Image Analysis (2018). In her previous position she held the title of R&D Engineer developing medical devices (Neurodan A/S). Carina Jensen joined the i4Offshore management team in January 2019.

i4Offshore presented to political and industrial stakeholders

  • i4Offshore presented to members of the Danish Social Democratic Party. The message conveyed to the politicians was the importance of public funding through national programs in order for industry and research to be eligible for funding through EU programs. Member of the EU parliament, Jeppe Kofod, and member of the Danish Parliament, Anders Kronborg, took part in the meeting.
  • Presentation of i4Offshore project at WindEurope conference, Bilbao, Spain. Integrated implementation of industrial innovations for offshore wind cost reduction – an EU funded project by Jesper Moeller, Head of Offshore Balance of Plant Innovations, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
  • Presentation of the i4Offshore project at Future Offshore Wind Conference BWO Berlin 2019 – Zukunft Offshore, April 2019, Lars Bo Ibsen, Aalborg University
  • Presentation of the i4Offshore project objectives at Research Day 2019. Danish Geotechnical Society, April 2019, Lars Bo Ibsen, Aalborg University
  • i4Offshore presented to EU-Summit in ErhvervsNetværk 9220, 13 May 2019.
  • i4Offshore presented to members of the Danish Social Democratic Party. The message conveyed to the politicians was the importance of public funding through national programs in order for industry and research to be eligible for funding through EU programs. Member of the EU parliament, Jeppe Kofod, and member of the Danish Parliament, Anders Kronborg, took part in the meeting.
  • Presentation of i4Offshore project at WindEurope conference, Bilbao, Spain. Integrated implementation of industrial innovations for offshore wind cost reduction – an EU funded project by Jesper Moeller, Head of Offshore Balance of Plant Innovations, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
  • Presentation of i4Offshore at the Galician Offshore International HUB as an example of integration of different levels in the supply chain.

6. Upcoming events

Wind Energy Denmark 2019 – October 1st, Herning, Denmark 

Attend the single most significant wind event in Denmark – this year with a keen focus on onshore wind. The event is a joint conference and exhibition that merges technology, innovation, research and business development.

Go to winddenmark.dk to learn more.

Wind Europe Offshore 2019 – 26-28th of November, Copenhagen, Denmark

Come to the home of wind industry giants like Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, Ørsted, MHI Vestas and LM Wind Power for WindEurope’s dedicated offshore wind energy event.

Go to windeurope.org to learn more.

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