Vaisala, a leader in measurement technology, has launched a new measurement product, MGP241, that measures CO₂ and humidity and is designed to bring transparency to CCUS projects. Both governments and private companies need CCUS to reduce and offset carbon emissions if they are to meet their reported decarbonization targets. However, with current technology still not ready for widespread use, constant, and accurate measurement of captured carbon is vital to ensure its continued development.

“No one knows yet if CCUS will indeed grow to be a significant solution in our fight against climate change. The technology is still in its early stages. What we can solve now is how to make measuring these projects as transparent and efficient as possible to leave no room for guesswork or sugarcoating the results – our numbers don’t lie,” said Julia Salovaara, strategy and business development manager at Vaisala.

The success of CCUS technology is critical for hard-to-abate industries such as materials manufacturing, energy production, and the chemical industry. With high emissions and few other significant solutions beyond improving their energy efficiency, these industries experience increased pressures from regulators and the public to decarbonize their operations.

MPG241 measures carbon dioxide and humidity in point source and direct air carbon capture processes, and in different carbon utilization and storage projects.

Unlike traditional gas analyzers, Vaisala’s MGP241 requires no expensive calibration gases, needs less maintenance, and promises a 10+ year lifespan in heavy-duty use. The compact size and in-situ design of the instrument has allowed for competitive pricing, around a third of the price of most common solutions in the market.

“Our new probe measures directly in the gas flow and shows test results in real time. This level of transparency and proof is essential for process optimization, building trust with stakeholders, and demonstrating genuine commitment to sustainability,” said Salovaara.

More info: www.vaisala.com

Logisticus, a transportation logistics, project management and technology company, recently acquired rail logistics leader KingSize Rail and Logistics. This acquisition enhances LG’s capabilities in project logistics.

This strategic move is set to expand LG’s presence in the renewable energy space, enabling the company to offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its customer base.

“We are thrilled to welcome KingSize Rail and Logistics to the Logisticus family,” said Vikash Patel, co-founder of LG. “This acquisition aligns with our long-term strategy to enhance our capabilities in the project logistics space and provide innovative solutions for our clients. KingSize brings a wealth of expertise and a strong track record in rail logistics, which will greatly complement our current offerings.”

Founded in 2019, KingSize has built a reputation for creating tools that allow the wind energy industry to move large components via rail. Founder Chris King has nine patents related to wind energy component transport on rail. These patents help to increase the number of components transported by rail and paved the way for wind distribution centers that could handle multiple customer’s products.

“Logisticus’ vision for growth and its commitment to customer service made this a

perfect fit,” said King. “I am excited to join forces and leverage our combined expertise to create even more value for our customers.”

Founded in November 2012, Logisticus Group, a certified Minority Business Enterprise, serves projects throughout North and South America.

More info: www.logisticusgroup.com

The development of the giant SeAH Wind factory on the Teesworks industrial site has reached a milestone with the arrival of the first vessel to supply raw materials for production trials to the factory.

The Jalonborg, an 89m-long supply ship, arrived with a 2,578-ton cargo of steel plates for the factory.

“We are thrilled to enter the next phase with the arrival of 2,500 tons of raw material, which we witnessed being unloaded from the vessel here at Steel River Quay,” said Peter Ivey, SeAH Wind chief operations officer.

“This marks the first significant material delivery, enabling pre-production trials to commence and reducing risk ahead of commercial launch in 2025.”

“This marks another important milestone in the development of the Teesworks site and is the perfect example of the importance of the Steel River Quay and its facilities to companies setting up their operations here,” said Martin Corney, Teesworks CEO.

“We are delighted to see this first shipment arrive for the SeAH Wind factory and look forward to seeing many more come in to dock over the coming months and years.”

More info: www.seahwind.com

As part of the Energy Systems Integration Group Fall Technical Workshop, Vibrant Clean Energy, Pattern Energy, Catalyst Cooperative and GridLab released the Resource Adequacy Renewable Energy (RARE) Power Dataset, which provides an open-source solar and wind dataset for power systems planners helping to fill a void in the modeling world.

“The availability of public and quality high-resolution renewable datasets is one of the most important requirements for planning a reliable clean power system,” said Debra Lew, ESIG executive director. “Pattern Energy is filling an important void by making this data set available and addressing an important need for modeling high renewable future power systems.”

With support from GridLab, Catalyst Cooperative will host and distribute the renewable energy dataset. The data includes hourly solar, onshore and offshore wind production published at a county granularity by aggregating 3 km data for the contiguous U.S. The first release contains data for the years 2019-2023, while a further release in Q1 2025 will contain data for 2014-2018. The foundation for this dataset are weather variables produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s high-resolution rapid refresh operational numerical weather prediction model. The approach has been used to inform real-world processes, such as developing a dataset for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator in 2020.

“Without quality renewable datasets that are coherent with the weather conditions and load, we are flying blind with respect to planning for an energy system powered by renewables. This contribution from Pattern Energy is a step forward in filling the gap and will help enable more accurate power system analysis,” said Justin Sharp, who has a doctorate in atmospheric sciences and is an EPRI technical lead focusing on the intersection of meteorology and energy. 

“The Pattern team and I recognize that there is benefit to all consumers, as well as the power system broadly, by making this data publicly available,” said Christopher Clack, Pattern Energy vice president of integrated systems planning and CEO of VCE. “One of the main challenges that modelers run into when designing robust future clean power systems is the lack of availability of granular quality renewable datasets for multiple weather years. The partnership with Catalyst Cooperative moves us one step closer to a clean and reliable grid.”

“The models that energy planners utilize to power our world are only as good as the information provided to that model. Modelers have been operating with only a part of the picture, which is a risk to reliability for all consumers. The release of RARE Power Dataset will help the collective community to build a stronger grid for everyone,” said Ric O’Connell, Executive Director of GridLab.

More info: www.vibrantcleanenergy.com | www.gridlab.com

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Defense (DOD) to support the coordinated development of wind energy generation on the nation’s outer continental shelf. The agreement will help further institutionalize the collaboration between BOEM and DOD that is ensuring that offshore wind lease areas and project plans strengthen the nation’s energy security in ways that are compatible with military operations.

BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein and Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment, signed the MOU during a ceremony at the Offshore WINDPOWER Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.

“BOEM is dedicated to establishing a strong offshore wind industry that supports communities and co-exists with other ocean uses,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “Our collaboration with the Department of Defense is crucial to ensure offshore wind development is carried out efficiently and sustainably, while minimizing impacts to military operations.”

“DOD is committed to working across the U.S. government to accelerate the ongoing clean energy transition, which is critical to ensuring access to reliable and resilient energy sources in order to fulfill our mission,” said Owens.

“We will continue to work with BOEM and our other interagency partners, to find solutions that enable offshore wind development while ensuring long-term compatibility with testing, training, and operations critical to our military readiness.”

DOD and BOEM share responsibility for ensuring that offshore wind project plans consider military preparedness requirements. The agreement will clarify the duties of both organizations during leasing and project review. This approach also includes participating in intergovernmental renewable energy task forces.

The MOU calls for DOD and BOEM to collaborate as early as possible in the offshore wind leasing process, regularly communicate and exchange information at the staff and leadership levels, and determine what areas should be deferred from leasing to enable the performance of DOD activities on the outer continental shelf.

More info: www.boem.gov/renewable-energy

Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA), a cooperative provider of electric services in Alaska, is advancing its renewable energy efforts with the help of wind Lidar technology to remotely sense the available wind resource at prospective wind-farm locations.

As part of its goal to reduce carbon emissions, GVEA is exploring opportunities to expand electric supply from renewable energy sources, particularly wind power. To enhance its wind resource assessments, the cooperative is using the ZX 300 Lidar.

Under the guidance of DNV, Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) deployed the ZX 300 wind Lidar, paired with a Mobismart Hybrid Clean Power Trailer, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. Despite the area’s extreme weather — ranging from 85°F (30°C) in summer to minus-36°F (minus-38°C) in winter — the Lidar has been successfully operating autonomously, powered reliably by the off-grid Mobismart Hybrid power trailer, ensuring a continuous and compatible energy supply and wind profile from the site.

“We are thankful for the funding provided through the Renewable Energy Fund at Alaska Energy Authority to allow this project to commence as the state strives toward promoting renewable energy development,” said Keith Palchikoff of GVEA. “To date, we are delighted to have experienced no downtime whatsoever since the Lidar and power trailer were installed. Alaska presents unique weather challenges, and it’s great to have technology that operates autonomously in such conditions. At GVEA, we are committed to exploring every opportunity to provide sustainable power to our customers.”

Data gathered by GVEA from the energy assessments is expected to be made public, encouraging private developers to submit proposals and potentially enter long-term power purchase agreements.

“We are thrilled to support GVEA with a remote off-grid power solution for this project,” said Irene Efston from Mobismart. “Our HYBRID solar with integrated fuel cell power trailers are designed to work seamlessly with the ZX 300 wind Lidar because they’re easily deployed and will provide autonomous and dependable power 24/7, while monitored remotely in various environments and extreme climates. To support the growing demand for wind measurements, our power trailers can be available within six weeks from order, allowing fast deployment of the Lidar on site.”

With more than 15,000 deployments in 100 countries globally, the ZX 300 wind Lidar is built to last and operate in extreme environments, simple and complex terrain, and in clear air, all with its survive-in-field attitude.

MORE INFO  www.zxlidars.com

Pemamek and Fastems, two global leaders in manufacturing technology and automation, have signed a contract to deliver a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) to EFM Group Oy. The solution combines production control and intelligence enabled by Fastems’ automation with the welding engineering and cells by Pemamek. The outcome is a system capable of 24/7 welding of mixed parts with minimal human intervention.

The system is managed by Fastems Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) control. It consists of storage and automation for raw materials, jigs, and ready parts and cells for tack and robotic welding. The collaboration builds the state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity of EFM, known for its high quality and capabilities in machined and welded parts and structures.

“Some years ago, The EFM group was innovating for a new welding solution with Pemamek,” said EFM group CEO Petri Holopainen. “We challenged them with an idea: What if the starting point for the welding automation solution was to combine the core competencies of Fastems and Pemamek? The EFM group has had good experience with Fastems’ FMS and MMS systems for machining for many years. Discussions between the EFM group, Pemamek, and Fastems started at the Subcontracting 2022 fair. Now we are looking forward to seeing this new welding automation system in action, located in our new Ylämylly factory.”

“Our cooperation with Pemamek has worked seamlessly, and we are proud of the value we can provide to the EFM Group,” said Mikko Nyman, the Group CEO of Fastems. “Fastems is excited to build and expand our expertise in mixed manufacturing automation beyond the machining domain. This partnership is a step towards the future of manufacturing,”.

“By combining Pemamek’s advanced welding solutions with Fastems’ intelligent production control, we are able to provide EFM Group with a state-of-the-art solution that increases production flexibility and efficiency,” said Jaakko Heikonen, vice chairman of the board of Pemamek. “In the manufacturing industry, continuous improvement in automation is a critical factor in improving competitiveness and productivity. This project is an excellent example of how the combination of robotics, intelligent production control, and welding technology can take automation to a new level. Our goal is to support our customers in moving towards more flexible and fully automated production processes that enable high quality and cost-efficiency.”

MORE INFO  pemamek.com/us

Vestas has signed a conditional order agreement with Inch Cape Offshore Limited, an equal joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Renewables, for the 1.1 GW Inch Cape project in Scotland.

The agreement is for the supply, installation, and commissioning of 72 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind project. The scope of the service contract includes a long-term comprehensive service agreement followed by a tailor-made operational support agreement.

“We are very pleased to have signed this agreement for a pivotal project for Scotland’s offshore wind industry, and our team is genuinely excited to contribute to this milestone together with ESB and Red Rock Renewables,” says Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern & Central Europe. “Inch Cape will have a significant impact on the U.K.’s sustainable energy future, and we are proud to stand at the forefront of this transition. Our thanks go to our partners at ESB and Red Rock Renewables for their trust and excellent collaboration.”

“We are delighted to be working with Vestas on deployment of these latest fully certified state-of-the-art turbines,” said Inch Cape Project Director John Hill. “When operational, these turbines will deliver more than 5TWh of renewable electricity each year, making a vital contribution to the UK’s energy security and emissions reduction targets.”

The Inch Cape project site is in the Scottish North Sea, 15 kilometers off the Angus coast, with the installation harbor based in the Port of Dundee. According to the current state of planning, wind-turbine installation is to begin in 2026, and the wind farm is expected to be fully operational in 2027.

For the project to count as a firm and unconditional order in Vestas’ books, certain standard contractual conditions precedents are still pending. When these have been fulfilled, Vestas will disclose the firm and unconditional order in accordance with its disclosure policy.

MORE INFO  www.vestas.com/en

Salamander Offshore Wind Farm, a project being developed by the Salamander Wind Project Company Limited, a joint venture between Ørsted, Simply Blue Group and Subsea7, has submitted its consent applications for the onshore aspects of its proposed floating development, 35 kilometers off Peterhead on the East Coast of Scotland.

The applications outline Salamander’s plans for the onshore components of its proposed development. The first submission has been made to Aberdeenshire Council for the onshore substation and associated infrastructure and has been accepted. The second was to the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government for the wind farm’s energy balancing infrastructure, which includes a battery storage that will help to balance the electricity grid.

This is a key step in the project’s timeline as the focus turn to the onshore elements of the development, which will generate enough green energy to power 100,000 Scottish homes if permitted.

“This project will generate a huge amount of energy for the country and presents key benefits to those in the local community and the supply chain,” said Hugh Yendole, Project Director for Salamander. “The opportunity is clear. The Scottish Government has the power to unlock the potential capability of floating offshore wind in our country and support Scotland becoming the global leader in floating offshore wind. The onshore applications present our plans for the onshore facilities required for our project. Both are key areas of our development and support our vision for green energy. At each stage we have encouraged and incorporated feedback from our stakeholders, and we will continue to work with them throughout the approval process.”

These applications follow on from the offshore consent applications which were submitted in April this year, which outlined the requirements for the offshore elements of the 100-MW project.

The Salamander project was a successful Innovation bidder in Crown Estate Scotland’s Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round, signing an Exclusivity Agreement for a seabed lease in May last year. The INTOG round awarded Exclusivity Agreements to two types of projects — small scale innovation projects of less than 100 MW, and larger projects aiming to decarbonize oil and gas infrastructure. Salamander bid for and won an Exclusivity Agreement under the innovation category.

If granted consent by Scottish Government and Local Authorities, Salamander will give the Scottish floating wind supply chain a major early capability development opportunity, supporting its scale-up ahead of the pipeline of projects leased under the ScotWind and INTOG seabed leasing rounds.

MORE INFO  www.salamanderfloatingwind.com

Aggreko, a global leader in energy solutions, recently announced its power solutions are helping build one of the first large-scale offshore wind farms in the United States. In a partnership with Barge Master, a Dutch firm specializing in barge-mounted construction platforms, Aggreko provided Tier 4F generators for Barge Master’s hydraulic equipment that allows turbine components to be lifted on and off barges. The turbines are for the Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, which began delivering power to the grid earlier this year and will eventually include 62 turbines.

During the process of transporting the turbine components from land, it is vital that the pieces remain still during the lifting operations due to their size and the risks involved if they are shifted by the ocean. Barge Master’s hydraulic-powered motion compensation system keeps the components stable while Aggreko’s high-efficiency generators power the hydraulic system with reliable on-site energy.

“Helping construct one of the first major offshore wind projects in the U.S. is a great honor for the Aggreko team, and we’re happy to assist Barge Master in powering their hydraulic units,” said Brent Robinson, business development manager — renewable energy at Aggreko. “We have deep expertise in providing power to projects in challenging locations, and we’re happy to work with a company that similarly excels in their field of providing the advanced equipment needed for offshore wind construction. We’re proud that Barge Master has entrusted us to power their specialized equipment, and being part of the Vineyard Wind project helps underscores Aggreko’s commitment to sustainable energy.”

Aggreko is providing four 1.2 MW Tier 4F generators per barge to power Barge Master’s hydraulic power units. Tier 4F generators are high-efficiency models that ensure low emissions and cleaner operations for the project, with the generators reducing emissions by 94 percent compared to older models. The twin-pack installation of the generators also helps Barge Master save space on the barges, which must also support the hydraulic lifts and turbine components.

“Installing offshore wind turbines is a delicate process, and we’re happy to have found a partner in Aggreko who understands this and can meet the energy needs of our hydraulic lifting technology,” said Berend Hoogendijk, technical manager of Barge Master. “With their experience providing reliable power in remote, complex settings, Aggreko is well-suited to building generator solutions that accommodate the needs of our turbine equipment for Vineyard Wind. We look forward to continuing our partnership as the remaining turbines are installed at one of America’s first and largest offshore wind farms.”

More info: www.aggreko.com/en-us

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (Atlantic Shores) recently announced it has received construction and operations plan (COP) approvals from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for Atlantic Shores Projects 1 and 2, which combined will generate enough renewable energy to serve more than 1 million New Jersey homes.

“Atlantic Shores is thrilled to receive approval to build our first two projects and deliver sufficient clean power to serve one third of New Jersey households,” said Joris Veldhoven, chief executive officer, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind. “Securing these critical approvals enables New Jersey’s first offshore wind project to start construction next year and represents meaningful progress in New Jersey achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2035. We are grateful to the Biden-Harris administration, our agency partners at the U.S. Department of the Interior and BOEM, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and all our federal and state agency partners who helped deliver this moment for Atlantic Shores.”

Atlantic Shores Projects 1 and 2 represent 2,800 MW of safe, reliable renewable power at unmatched scale and maturity. Atlantic Shores Project 1 is New Jersey’s first offshore wind project, and COP approval will enable the near-term creation of thousands of in-demand jobs and acceleration of billions of dollars in supply chain investments being made in the Garden State. Atlantic Shores Project 2 will build on this first-mover success and drive economic growth across the state over the next decade.

“(The) announcement from Atlantic Shores represents meaningful progress toward a clean energy future for New Jersey. Growing New Jersey’s offshore wind capacity has been one of the highest priorities for my Administration,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Offshore wind will strengthen our state’s economy through supply chain investments and good-paying, union jobs. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration clearing the way for this milestone, we are one step closer to achieving 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.”

“I congratulate Atlantic Shores for reaching yet another milestone on an important project that is on track to become the first offshore wind farm in federal waters off New Jersey’s coast. I believe that offshore wind has the potential to play a key role in transitioning us to a clean energy economy, delivering zero-carbon energy to our state while spurring billions of dollars in economic investment and creating good-paying jobs,” said Sen. George Helmy. “Bills to bolster the offshore wind industry and increase its benefits to our state were among the first pieces of legislation that I co-sponsored in the Senate. I commend both the Biden-Harris administration and Governor Murphy for their commitment to making offshore wind a reality off New Jersey’s coast, and I look forward to continuing to work with Atlantic Shores and other stakeholders in my time in the Senate.”

“Atlantic Shores receiving its construction and operations plan is welcomed news. This critical infrastructure will generate enough offshore wind energy to power over 1 million New Jersey homes,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Not only will this investment help us combat climate change, but it will also generate good paying jobs by offering new workforce training opportunities and utilize local labor unions to get the job done.”

MORE INFO  www.boem.gov

Vaisala, a global leader in measurement technology, recently launched Vaisala Compass, a weather-based decision-making platform for the renewable energy industry. Unveiled at WindEnergy Hamburg, the Compass platform ultimately provides a comprehensive suite of tools to optimize the entire life cycle of wind- and solar-energy projects, from initial site assessment through operations.

Vaisala Compass empowers developers and operators to mitigate challenges related to weather fluctuation and uncertainty, such as collecting bankable data in increasingly complex site conditions, accurately evaluating weather data for yield resource assessment, securing project financing, and optimizing wind and solar farm operations. The digital platform organizes, interconnects, and simplifies access to the largest portfolio of weather solutions combining instruments and intelligence and leverages more than 40 years of Vaisala’s historical wind and solar data combined with observation weather data.

The software platform helps ensure data is accurate, reliable, and bankable — in all types of terrain. Users are also able to continuously monitor and manage their fleet of weather instruments, including WindCube Lidars and AWS810 Solar Edition weather stations, on one platform.

“As renewable energy grows and developers and operators strive to maximize the value of their projects, the cutting-edge Compass platform offers a uniquely efficient weather analytics and project management experience,” said Alexis Crama, vice president responsible for the renewable energy business in weather and environment at Vaisala. “By combining our extensive historical weather data with real-time measurements and advanced analytics, Compass equips customers to make more informed decisions at every stage of their projects. And this is just the beginning — we’ll continue to set the industry standard by expanding the platform’s capabilities to meet the sector’s ever-evolving needs.”

For more information about how Vaisala Compass builds on the company’s nearly 90 years of experience in weather measurement and analytics, visit Vaisala.com/Compass or meet Vaisala renewable energy experts at WindEnergy Hamburg, hall A1, stand 139.

MORE INFO  www.vaisala.com

Rapid expansion of offshore wind development worldwide is posing operation and maintenance challenges as turbines are installed in increasingly remote locations, harsh environments and deeper waters. This demands that Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) are equipped with flexible solutions for secure transfer of maintenance crews in difficult operating conditions, according to Vestdavit.

This requirement has resulted in an increasing level of orders for the Norwegian supplier of boat-handling systems on the strength of its capability to develop versatile davits for heavy-duty workboats able to safely transport personnel and equipment in variable sea states, with deliveries to the likes of Norwind Offshore, Esvagt and Rem Offshore.

According to research firm Rystad Energy, investments in global offshore wind are set to more than double over this decade from $46bn in 2021 to $102bn by 2030.

Europe is leading the way as the largest offshore wind region with 8,500 turbines expected to be operational by 2030, based on projected investments of $53bn by countries including the UK, Spain, Norway, Denmark and Poland.

As well as an increase in project volume, offshore wind farms are expanding both in scale and the size of turbines (15-22MW).

This, combined with potential turbine reliability issues due to rapid technological evolution of new models every few years, raises the requirement for regular maintenance of multiple turbines across an extensive wind farm to ensure continued uptime.

At the same time, wind farm owners need to minimize operation and maintenance costs, and maximize turbine reliability and project revenue over a typical project lifetime of 20-25 years.

“Consequently, there is a requirement for SOV operators to be able to provide safe and efficient deployment of work crews and equipment to perform effective maintenance on several turbines simultaneously across a wide sea area within a tight operational window,” said Vestdavit Managing Director Rolf Andreas Wigand.

An SOV can serve as a self-supporting mother vessel for many service engineers while being stationed over an extended period a long distance from shore, with some wind farms located over 100km offshore. This results in savings in cost and energy used for maintenance, a need for fewer SOVs, reduction of non-operational downtime and increased turbine availability.

Vestdavit has bolstered its market position in offshore wind after both gaining new customers and winning repeat orders with existing customers – with davit orders from this segment accounting for Nkr100m, or 30%, of record sales last year – and its systems are now being used by around 80% of all offshore wind vessel operators.

MORE INFO  www.vestdavit.com

Vestas has received an order for the Supply and Installation of 46 V162-6.2 MW wind turbines from Vestas’ EnVentus platform for CS Energy’s Lotus Creek Wind Farm, located in Central Queensland. With a generation capacity of 285 MW, Vestas will also deliver a long-term Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement, ensuring optimal energy production to the Australian grid.

Lotus Creek Wind Farm is the first project developed by Vestas Development in Australia to reach financial close and construction readiness.

“Together with CS Energy and Zenviron, Vestas is delighted to provide our best-in-class people, wind turbines and capabilities for this landmark project. As the world’s largest provider of wind energy, we have always been committed to Australia’s sustainable future and we thank the Lotus Creek project partners for joining us in this world-changing mission,” said Danny Nielsen, Country Head and Senior Vice President, Australia and New Zealand Vestas.

Vestas’ efforts to expand its presence in renewable energy development are highlighted through securing all key land access, planning and environmental approvals, grid connection, and delivering the overall wind farm design. Included in this was collaborating with Lotus Creek Wind Farm landholders and the traditional owners Barada Barna and Barada Kabalbara Yetimarala people. Vestas also worked closely with Ark Energy in the project’s early stage.

“Lotus Creek Wind Farm showcases Vestas Development Australia’s ability to bring greenfield projects to commercial and planning maturity, hence accelerating the uptake of essential clean energy projects across Australia. A key to this project’s success has been nurturing valuable relationships with the traditional owners, landholders, the local community and our dedicated team of consultants,” said Evan Carless, Vice President, Vestas Development Australia.

“The Lotus Creek Wind Farm will be CS Energy’s first 100 per cent owned wind asset and is a key part of our strategy to develop up to 700 MW of wind generation in Central Queensland. This project will support the growing demand for renewable energy from our large commercial and industrial customers and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the region,” said Darren Busine, Chief Executive Officer CS Energy.

By developing new renewable energy projects, Vestas continues to advance the energy transition while bringing value and benefits to local communities. Delivery of Vestas’ wind turbines is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with commissioning to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026.

During the peak of construction, Lotus Creek Wind Farm will involve an on-site workforce of up to 400 people and create 10 to 15 long-term regional service roles once operational. The 285 MW generated by this wind farm will power the equivalent of 150,000 average Queensland homes.

MORE INFO  www.vestas.com

Zelim, an Edinburgh-based sea survival innovator, has launched an unmanned / manned remote-control rescue vessel for persons who have fallen into water.

Guardian, an 8.4m long, 2.5m wide aluminum-hulled Next Generation Fast Rescue Craft, was unveiled to the maritime industry at the SMM Trade Fair in Hamburg, Germany.

Designed for rapid deployment to recover both conscious and unconscious man-overboard casualties, the Guardian can operate in conditions that conventional solutions might find challenging or too dangerous.

As it nears the person in the water, the vessel heads toward the casualty, who is then recovered from the water by the rescue conveyor, which is designed to grip and recover immersed casualties, while minimizing the risk to casualties from the loss of hydrostatic pressure. The conveyor can pull two survivors to safety at the same time.

“Sea survival is hugely dependent on the time it takes to retrieve individuals from the water, but inclement weather can prohibit the launch of manned rescue craft and lives are needlessly lost,” said Zelim founder and innovator Sam Mayall.

“Ship crews have little time to carry out an effective rescue before maritime conditions prevent the casualty from assisting in their own rescue. When rescue vessels approach, many survivors simply don’t have the strength to pull themselves to safety. This is even more difficult when they are unconscious or unresponsive. Guardian has been designed to ensure more people can be rescued in the harshest of weather conditions,” Mayall said.

MORE INFO  www.zelim.com

In a strategic move to support South Korea’s growing offshore wind industry, Mammoet and Samyang Marine Group have entered into a partnership.

This collaboration is set to establish Offshore Service Port (OSP) facilities to serve projects across sectors in South Korea, with a focus on upcoming offshore wind projects. The partnership will integrate full-spectrum terminal management, including handling, staging, marshaling and stevedoring services, with heavy lifting and installation capabilities. The OSPs, located in the ports of Busan and Masan, will cater to projects in South Korea and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

“South Korea’s offshore wind sector holds immense potential, and our partnership with Mammoet brings together local and international expertise to provide comprehensive solutions for the industry. Together, we will deliver world-class services to support the construction and operation of offshore wind farms, driving the sector’s growth.” said S.C. Roe, Chairman of Samyang Marine Group.

South Korea’s expanding offshore wind market requires not just infrastructure, but also specialized logistics, handling, construction, and installation services that are critical to the offshore wind sector’s success. Recognizing this, the partnership aims to address these needs comprehensively. Serving high-profile projects in the sector for decades, such as Hywind Tampen, Seagreen, The Greater Changhua, Wind-float Atlantic, to name a few, Mammoet’s transferrable skillset will deliver significant value for the region.

The partnership responds to the urgent need for an enhanced offshore wind supply chain and services to meet the targets outlined in South Korea’s Renewable Energy 3020 implementation plan, which includes 14.3GW of offshore wind by 2030. Crucial to achieving this target is the readiness of the supply chain, responsible for delivering the components and services vital for the construction of offshore wind farms.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Samyang Marine Group to address the critical challenges in South Korea’s offshore wind market. With a strong track record of successful projects in Korea, this partnership is all about leveraging our combined strengths to create value and foster the growth of renewable energy in the region,” said Jack van den Brink, Mammoet Projects AMEA managing director.

Leveraging Mammoet’s expertise in heavy lifting and integrated logistics with Samyang Marine Group’s local knowledge and extensive terminal operations capabilities, this strategic partnership represents a significant step in enhancing South Korea’s offshore wind supply chain capabilities, supporting the country’s renewable energy objectives efficiently and effectively.

MORE INFO  www.mammoet.com

Northern Offshore Services has unveiled the new I-Class Crew Transfer Vessel powered by the first commercial application of Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform. The vessel began operating in a UK wind farm on September 1, 2024. N-O-S and Volvo Penta collaborated for almost two decades on ongoing efforts to decarbonize the marine industry and reach zero emissions by 2050. To help achieve these goals, N-O-S designed the future-proof CTV that will adapt to and accommodate new technologies and energy solutions while it is in service over the next 25 years and more.

Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform brings efficiency, maneuverability and versatility that will enable the I-Class vessel to transform over its life cycle. This is made possible through propulsion conversions that allow the vessel to adapt to hybrid, fully electric and renewable or future alternative fuel solutions without having to rebuild. The I-Class vessel is also equipped with a remote diagnostics package, which will capture more than 6,000 hours of data that will be incorporated into optimization and future Volvo Penta propulsion design.

“Northern Offshore Services and Volvo Penta share an innovative spirit that drives us both. Today that resulted in the first vessel powered by Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform entering real-world commercial operations,” said Johan Inden, President of Volvo Penta Marine. “N-O-S’ deep experience in building vessels for some of the most demanding environments challenged us to develop new ways to improve our propulsion systems and adapt to emerging technologies. Together, we are showing the industry what the incredible maneuverability, ease of use and precision of the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform can accomplish in combination with the expertise of a partner like N-O-S.”

In addition to the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform’s flexibility to adapt to future technologies and energy solutions, it is designed for outstanding maneuverability. The enhanced maneuverability and thrust from the system make it ideal for the challenging conditions typically seen at offshore wind farms.

The I-Class vessel leverages four engines connected to two drives to meet specific needs at every stage of operation, providing dual power on demand. Eco Mode will automatically start or stop individual engines in each situation, optimizing fuel consumption and engine running hours.
Recognizing the challenging environment and long operations at sea, N-O-S designed the I-Class vessel with comfort in mind through high-quality interior outfitting and furnishing.
The Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform unlocks efficiency gains with available Internal Combustion Engine solutions leveraging alternative or renewable fuel sources. Equipped I-Class vessel engines could potentially see up to 30 percent total fuel savings and emissions through the Eco Mode feature. These engines are approved to run Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and have the potential to reduce emissions by up to 90 percent.

MORE INFO  www.volvopenta.com/en-us/

Sarens has been actively involved in the construction of the Sofia Offshore Wind plant by successfully carrying out the Sofia OCP Jacket and Topside Weighing and Loadout project.

The plant — owned by RWE and located on Dogger Bank in the North Sea, 195 kilometers off the coast of the U.K. — will have 100 turbines and a power generation capacity of 1.4 GW reaching the coast through an extensive inter-array cable network. It will provide green electricity to 1.2 million homes in the U.K. The turbines will be mounted on monopiles, reaching heights of 252 meters.

Sarens provided a complete package of services, including manpower, engineering, mooring winches, weighing equipment, and 524 axles with 18 PPU Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) for the weighing and loadout.

Sarens, a global leader and reference in crane rental services, heavy lifting and, engineered transport, has been actively involved in the construction of the plant, successfully completing the Sofia OCP Jacket and Topside Weighing and Loadout project. This work, carried out in collaboration with RWE & GE and managed by Seatrium, took place at Seatrium’s shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, from May 25, 2024 to June 15, 2024.

The project involved the offshore converter platform (OCP), a crucial element for the HVDC electrical system of the offshore wind farm. This tool is responsible for converting the energy into direct current (DC) and then transmitting it to land. Thanks to this system, the electricity generated by the rotation of the wind turbines is converted from 66kV alternating current to 320kV direct current. Two seven-kilometer-long cables carry the electricity to the Lazenby converter station.

The main part of the project consisted of transporting and loading the gigantic OCP topside, which weighs 14,000 tons and is 57 meters high, as well as the OCP Jacket, weighing 5,250 tons and 51 meters high. This complex job marks the heaviest topside move in Southeast Asia, and historically, one of the heaviest ever undertaken in the world.

Although the weight and size of the parts posed a major challenge, Sarens’ logistics team ensured punctual delivery and maintenance of the OCP units. To make this possible, Sarens provided a complete package of services, including manpower, engineering, mooring winches, weighing equipment, and 524 axles with 18 PPU Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) for the weighing and loadout. At the peak of the work, there were 28 Sarens members who had to deal with adverse conditions, including the impact of the rainy season on site preparation.

The Sofia offshore wind plant will be commissioned in 2026, at which time it will begin generating clean energy that will reach hundreds of thousands of homes in the United Kingdom by making use of a network of approximately 360 kilometers of inter-array cables from the turbines to the platform.

Sarens has extensive international experience in the assembly and maintenance of wind farms. It has participated in various installations around the world and particularly in Europe, as in France (Saint Nazaire and Saint Brieuc) and the U.K., where its last project is now successfully completed. Recently, Sarens worked in the marshaling of 62 of the monopiles, each weighing 2,000 metric tons, the largest and heaviest XXL monopiles ever to be handled in the U.K., and now the 882 MW Moray West offshore wind farm, is well on its way to contribute to the Scottish renewable energy network.

MORE INFO  www.sarens.com

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, will honor Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of Oceantic Network, as Person of the Year during an October 26 event to be held on the academy’s campus.

“I am honored to receive the 2024 Maritime Person of the Year Award,” said Burdock. “I have dedicated my career to protecting the environment through the advancement of clean energy, and our maritime partners are already proving to be a key part of our nation’s clean energy future. Every offshore wind project requires a host of specialized vessels and dozens of skilled technicians. Each of these massive construction projects are bringing jobs, training and investment to maritime companies and communities across the East and Gulf Coasts. Thank you to Massachusetts Maritime Academy for recognizing the importance of offshore wind energy and its contributions to the domestic maritime industry.”

Burdock co-founded the Baltimore-based Oceantic Network – an organization dedicated to growing the offshore wind and other ocean renewable industries and their supply chains – in 2013. With a deep background in policy, she has led the Network,  launching the International Partnering Forum, the largest offshore wind conference in the Americas; delivered critical offshore industry products and services, including Supply Chain Connect, the Offshore Wind Market dashboard, and Foundation 2 Blade training and remains a thought leader advancing the development of the U.S. offshore wind industry and domestic supply chain.

With extensive experience in running public/private partnerships, Burdock has focused her career on convening and coordinating diverse stakeholders, including businesses, academics, government agencies, policy makers, community leaders, workforce organizations and strategic investors, to develop sound solutions that facilitate the implementation of clean energy in the U.S.

Burdock holds a degree in sociology from Frostburg State University and is a graduate of Leadership Maryland. She has been featured in energy-related publications including ReCharge, reNEWS, and RTO Insider, as well as the Baltimore Sun, Forbes, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal.

The Emery Rice Medal has been awarded to a select group of maritime professionals. Past honorees of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Person of the Year include admirals, captains, and CEOs.

“We are delighted to award the Emery Rice Medal to Liz Burdock, not only for her significant contributions to the maritime industry, but also for embodying the very principles we teach at the Academy – leadership, ethics, business sense, and respect for the ocean environment,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “We look forward to honoring her during our October 26 ceremony.”

The Academy has a tradition of honoring a civilian or military leader with a distinguished career of excellence, innovation, and service to the maritime industries and other related industries with the Emery Rice Medal, named for an 1897 Academy graduate and WWI hero. Captain Rice was twice recognized by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt for his maritime skill and bravery.

MORE INFO  https://www.oceanticwind.ca

Vestas has received a firm wind turbine order for the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, formerly known as Hollandse Kust West VII, in the Netherlands.

Vestas will be supplying 53 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines and is responsible for the supply, delivery, and commissioning of the turbines. Upon completion, Vestas will service the assets under a comprehensive 5-year service agreement followed by a long-term operational support agreement.

“OranjeWind sets a high bar for technological innovations and sustainability, and we are delighted to deliver our solutions, including our offshore flagship wind turbine, for this project in the Netherlands. Our entire team is looking forward to working together with the OranjeWind project team on this exciting and ambitious wind farm in the North Sea,” said Nils de Baar, Vestas Northern and Central Europe president.

RWE and TotalEnergies are entering a 50/50 partnership to deliver the OranjeWind offshore wind project. The project has an installed capacity of 795 MW; a grid connection capacity of 760 MW and an excess capacity of 35 MW to use the connection capacity as efficiently as possible, even when production is lower.

The project site is located around 53 km off the Dutch coast in the North Sea. Wind turbine installation is expected to start in 2027.

MORE INFO  www.vestas.com