Irish Sea and Beyond - Offshore O&M Requirements, Sally Shenton

Irish Sea and Beyond
- Offshore O&M
Requirements

Copyright © Generating Better Limited 2013

Renewable Energy Operations & Maintenance. Support and Improvement from Experience.

Overview
Offshore turbines numbers are growing to a critical mass which could sustain an
independent offshore wind operations & maintenance support sector.
 the Irish Sea is one of the largest clusters in the UK
 the industry needs contractors who understand our challenges, can innovate &
deliver
 for those that get it right there are opportunities across the wider UK and beyond…

1.

Offshore Wind – what is the opportunity

2.

Offshore wind – through the eyes of the customer

3.

Critical to Success Factors


OFFSHORE WIND: WHAT IS THE
OPPORTUNITY?

Renewable Energy Operations &Copyright © Generating
Maintenance. Support and Improvement from Experience.

First…a quiz

Q: How many offshore wind turbines will be
operational in the Irish Sea by end 2014?
– 396
– 469
– 577


Copyright © Generating Operations & Maintenance. Support and Improvement from Experience.
Renewable Energy

First…a quiz

Q: How many offshore wind turbines will be
operational in the Irish Sea by end 2014?

A: 577

Copyright © Generating Operations & Maintenance. Support and Improvement from Experience.
Renewable Energy

First…a quiz

Q: What fraction of total project costs are

dedicated to Operations & Maintenance?
– 15%
– 20%
– 25%



First…a quiz

Q: What fraction of total project costs are

dedicated to Operations & Maintenance?

A: 25%


Who are the players?
E.ON – Robin Rigg (60)

Centrica/Dong – Barrow (30)
Dong/SSE – Walney 1 (51)
Dong/SSE – Walney 2 (51)
Vattenfall – Ormonde (30)
Dong/SPR – West of Duddon Sands (108)
RWE – Gwynt-y-Mor (160)
GE – Arklow (7)

Dong – Burbo Bank (25)

RWE – Rhyl Flats (25)
RWE – North Hoyle (30)


OFFSHORE WIND THROUGH THE
EYES OF YOUR CUSTOMER


A Day in the Life of Robin Rigg
Offshore Windfarm
•
•
•
•
•

Windfarm overview
Tasks and activities
Daily routine
What is important
Challenges



Robin Rigg is a 180 MW plant…Scotland’s
first offshore windfarm


A day at Robin Rigg…
6am

Handover from Central Control

Typically a 10 -12 hour
day

Emergency Coordinator

Finalise work for day
Finalise transfer list
Vessel load
Releasing Work Orders
Toolbox talk – offshore teams

7.30am

Vessels Depart
Daily call to traders
Vessel Coordination
Transfer of control
Undertaking work
Preparation of safety documents
Event logging
High Voltage system operation
Vessels Return

7pm

Offshore &
Onshore Support
-Service
-Repairs
-Safety Support
-Supervision
-Inspections

Long Term Work
Work planning
Task area / Safety topic work
Contract Management
Long term projects
O&M analysis
Training
Daily / weekly reports

Handover to Central Control

By 8pm

Suite 13

At the heart of the site is an
Offshore Substation


Offshore Substation Tasks
•Monthly inspections
•Fire system checks
•Refuelling diesel generator
•Safety checks on lifting equipment
and emergency response equipment
•Paint repairs
•Breakdowns / repairs



Suite 15

The 60 turbines have a blade diameter as
long as football pitch…


Turbine Tasks
Annual turbine service
HV electrical inspections
Statutory inspection
•Pressure systems
•Lifts
•Anchor points
•Davits & crane
Navigation Lights
Fog Horn
Aviation Lights
Blade inspections
Breakdowns
Ladder and grating checks
Ladder and grating cleaning


Sub-sea cables are laid beneath the
Solway Firth
Boat based surveys of seabed
Diver surveys
Repairs
Cable protection work
Suite 17

Environmental surveys
Guard duties
Fisheries Liaison


Vessels and Logistics
– Windfarm workboats

– 2 vessels, crewed by local
seafarers
– Maintenance
– Cleaning
– Refuelling
– Load-out
– Specialist services (radio,
navigation equipment…)

– Logistics

– Warehousing
– Spare parts logistics
– Stores work


Operational Base
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Initial design and construction
Maintenance
Cleaning
Painting / fit out
PR/Communications
Equipment and furniture
Outsourced services (medicals,
employee support, vehicles)
Plant and cranes
Environmental services
Catering/hotels/taxis
Sign-making


Opportunities - Summary
Wind turbine service & repair
Inspection services
Specialised engineering support
Warehousing
Spare parts & consumables
Vessel charter, management & services
Cleaning (onshore & offshore)
Painting (onshore & offshore)
Supply plant and equipment
Supply labour
Environmental surveys
Waste management
Vessel support (guard duties)
Fisheries Liaison
Training
IT and office support

Source: Crown Estate


OFFSHORE WIND: CRITICAL TO
SUCCESS FACTORS

Renewable Energy Operations &Copyright © Generating
Maintenance. Support and Improvement from Experience.

What is important?
Getting to
Work safely

Emergency
Preparedness

Generating when it
is windy



Electricity Suppliers must make or buy
enough power to supply its customers…24
hours a day, 365 days per year…

Customers (Demand)
Electricity
(Supply)

…their customers include householders, businesses and
other power companies


Challenges
35,000.00 MWh

30,000.00 MWh

25,000.00 MWh

Energy

20,000.00 MWh
Plan
Usable

15,000.00 MWh

Actual

10,000.00 MWh

5,000.00 MWh

0.00 MWh
Jan-11

Feb-11

Mar-11

Apr-11

May-11

Jun-11

Jul-11

Aug-11

Sep-11

Oct-11

Nov-11

Dec-11

Period



Critical to Success Factors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Health & safety
Be really flexible
Align your drivers to the owners
Find ways to work around the weather
Offer environmentally-friendly solutions
Getting through the procurement “barrier”
Sell the benefits of “local” suppliers


Benefits of local suppliers
•
•
•
•
•

Can react to changing weather better
Cheaper to mobilise and de-mobilise
Local knowledge and experience
Good PR for the owners of the windfarm
Future licenses may require more local content for
new windfarms



What more could be done to
encourage this sector?
• Form collaborations / networks to
sell a wider range of services
• Develop new operating models
that align better with the drivers of
the windfarm owners
• Develop a recognised Quality Mark
to help with “bankability”


Conclusions
Turbines numbers are growing to a critical mass
which could sustain an independent offshore wind
operations & maintenance support sector.
the Irish Sea is one of the largest clusters in the
UK
the industry needs contractors who understand
our challenges, can innovate & deliver
for those that get it right there are opportunities
across the wider UK and beyond…


QUESTIONS


Irish Sea and Beyond - Offshore O&M Requirements, Sally Shenton

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