Global: Fred. Olsen Windcarrier launch “game-changer” for offshore O&M

David Matthews, who is also Project Director for Fred. Olsen Windbase, has said that by marrying established technologies and services from within the Fred. Olsen related companies, they can create a fixed offshore facility that offers developers a way to reduce operating costs for the next generation of wind farms built further from shore.

“We’ve seen floating solutions and even man made islands proposed for projects located far from shore. E.ON’s Amrumbank offshore wind farm will use the island of Helgoland to launch its island based service concept, which will no doubt be a great success and one that Fred. Olsen Windbase will replicate across Europe,” David Matthews said.

“But new concepts must offer business case certainty and use established technologies with an experienced supplier in offshore marine contracting.”

Fred. Olsen Windbase is a flexible solution with a mix of facilities and capabilities. These can be delivered individually or in combination with other offshore marine assets. Fred. Olsen Windbase includes an accommodation module, a full service base and a fully operational offshore heliport, removing the requirement for an onshore quayside facility.

“The beauty of this new approach lies in the fact that it offers a through-life capability, deployed very early in the construction phase for installation and commissioning, and remaining onsite until the project is re-powered or decommissioned,” David Matthews said.

“I’m sure that through use it will evolve over time, with year on year efficiency gains further reducing O&M costs.”

An investment decision on the first full-scale version is expected in the first half of 2016.