Blades designed, tested and manufactured on the Isle of Wight have arrived at MHI Vestas’ pre-assembly facility in Belfast ready for installation at DONG Energy’s Burbo Bank Extension project.
The first six 80 metre long blades for the 258 MW Burbo Bank Extension project have arrived at the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind pre-assembly facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The blades for the V164-8.0 MW turbines -which were designed, tested and manufactured at the MHI Vestas blade factory on the Isle of Wight- will be the first locally built blades to be installed at a UK offshore wind power plant.
The MHI Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight is where the unique skills and processes were developed that are necessary to produce blades on a large scale.
CEO Jens Tommerup said, “It’s a significant milestone for the industry to see the world’s largest blades in serial production arriving in Belfast ready for installation. This marks the first time locally manufactured major components for offshore wind turbines are being used in the UK.”.
“Through investment and collaboration with our partners in the Solent region, we have created jobs, increased training opportunities and stimulated growth throughout the entire supply chain,” said Jens Tommerup, and continues: “We believe that our efforts reflect the stimulation and growth that the UK has targeted with the continued investment in offshore wind power.”
UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark said:
“By building a strong, competitive UK supply chain we are creating jobs, attracting investment, and providing the certainty and confidence businesses need.
“We are committed to our world-leading offshore wind industry and now we have the first ever offshore wind turbine blades built in the UK by MHI Vestas.”
Belfast Harbour’s Commercial Director, Joe O’Neill, added: “Belfast Harbour is delighted to welcome MHI Vestas and to have the privilege of handling the world’s largest blades in serial production. In 2013, we completed the development of a 200,000 m2 offshore wind terminal, the first bespoke facility of its kind in the UK in order to facilitate this style of operation. Supporting the growth of the renewable energy sector is something we are proud to be a part of and look forward to working with MHI Vestas to ensure the successful completion of the Burbo Bank Extension project.”
Work at the pre-assembly site commenced in April 2016 and since then the first towers have been fully assembled, tested and pre-commissioned, ready for offshore installation.
About the Burbo Bank Extension project
The 258 MW Burbo Bank Extension project lies off the coast of Liverpool Bay, in the UK. When installed the 32 wind turbines will produce enough energy to meet the electricity requirements for approximately 230,000 houses. Installation of the wind turbines will begin in autumn 2016, and commissioning is expected to be completed in 2017. Burbo Extension Ltd is owned by DONG Energy Wind Power, PKA and Kirkbi.
About the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind Blades Unit
The blades unit of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will consists of over 500 dedicated and passionate employees who are committed to delivering high-technology, high-quality, hand-crafted blades built to withstand the harshest conditions. With a highly utilised production facility located on the Isle of Wight in the UK, with an additional production facility in Nakskov Denmark, the blades unit draws on the significant composite knowledge found on the Isle of Wight and within the Solent advanced manufacturing cluster. MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s 80m blade is the first major offshore wind turbine component to be designed, tested and serially manufactured in the UK. Both the Isle of Wight and Nakskov factories provide significant economic benefits for their local communities and regions.
About MHI Vestas Offshore Wind
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is a joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems A/S 50% and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) 50%. The company’s sole focus is to design, manufacture, install and service wind turbines for the offshore wind industry. The company aims to drive down the cost of energy from offshore wind parks by driving capital and operating savings, and increasing output of wind turbines by bringing the best technology to the market. The company is founded on collaboration, and creating powerful partnerships with key stakeholders will be the cornerstone of its business model.
About the V164-8.0 MW
· 8 MW rated power, with an optimal rotor to generator ratio
· 80 m blades, the equivalent of nine double decker London buses
· Each blade weighs 35 tonnes
· Swept area of 21,124 m2, larger than the London Eye
· The nacelle is 20 m long, 8 m wide and 8 m high, weighing approximately 390 tonnes
· Approximate hub height of 105 m (Østerild prototype 140 m)
· Approximate tip height of 187 m (Østerild prototype 220 m)
· Reduces operational and maintenance costs by enabling customers to run fewer, larger turbines
· World record production by a single wind turbine of 192 MWh in 24-hour period (October 2014)
About the history of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind
· 1 April 2014: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind officially launched
· 5 October 2014: V164-8.0 MW smashes world power record for power produced by a wind turbine (up to 16,000 British households)
· 12 November 2014: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind awarded Renewable UK “Breakthrough of the year 2014”
· 19 December 2014: First V164-8.0 MW order from DONG Energy for Burbo Bank Extension project
· 31 December 2014: V164-8.0 MW awarded Offshore Wind Turbine of the Year
· 18 May 2015: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind signs its largest offshore order for the 400 MW Rampion project
· 24 August 2015: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind signs conditional contract for 450 MW Borkum Riffgrund 2 project in Germany
· 16 December 2015: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind wins 330 MW order for Walney Extension in the UK
· 24 April 2016: First two commercial V164-8.0 MW turbines inaugurated at Maade in Denmark
· 7 July 2016: Vattenfall places order for the 400 MW Horns Reef 3 project in Denmark.
