Osbit, the UK-based offshore wind technology supplier, has successfully delivered a new monopile gripper system to Yunneng Wind Power Co. Ltd (Yunneng), which is realising the Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm in Taiwan.
The system will be used to support installation activities on Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm. Once completed, the farm will produce 2.4 terawatt hours of renewable energy per year, supplying enough renewable electricity to meet the power needs of 605,000 households annually.
The Osbit-supplied system is enabling monopile installation from a moored floating vessel and is designed to handle some of the largest monopiles in the world. It is deployed and stowed using a deck rail skidding system and is used to maintain the position and verticality of the monopile foundations.
The gripper design is highly adaptable for future projects, accommodating monopiles between 6.5 to 10 metres in diameter, with push forces up to 300 tonnes. The system has also been designed for rapid mobilisation and can be adapted to suit different vessel structures.
The system is also environmentally considerate, incorporating an integrated Near Pile Noise Mitigation system, which minimises the subsea noise and vibration associated with piling activities. This is complemented by bubble curtain rings which are deployed to dampen the energy emitted into the environment and further protect marine life.
The system has been fabricated in Singapore to suit Yunneng’s project needs, with many sub-systems being shipped across from UK & EU suppliers for assembly. A full project team has worked on site in Singapore throughout the build, closely collaborating with fabricator Baker Engineering, to deliver the completed gripper.
Following its completion, the Osbit-supplied pile gripper will now be mobilised on to the DLS-4200 vessel and will be deployed in the coming months. It will be used in conjunction with an upending hinge, which is also being delivered by Osbit.
Phil Pennington, Osbit’s Project Delivery Director, comments: “We’re delighted to have delivered this system. Our team has worked extremely hard to overcome a range of market and logistical challenges during this project, including a level of global supply chain pressure we have never experienced before, and we are delighted with this successful outcome.
We would also like to extend our thanks to our global supply chain for its support in making this project happen, especially to Baker Engineering for its team’s continued commitment and effort in supporting this project.
We look forward to sharing more details as the project continues to progress.”
Tim Benjamin Kühl, responsible Project Manager for the procurement of Installation Tools, adds: “We are pleased to take over the Gripper from Osbit, who did a great job along this project, and we are really looking forward to see the new built equipment in operation this year. Thanks to Osbit and their supply chain for managing all the challenges during these complicated times.”
