Deutsche Windtechnik Offshore und Consulting GmbH explains to PES how it is possible for them to offer an excellent maintenance service whilst keeping the costs down. They do this by providing a variety of individual service packages through synergies and flexibility….
Maintenance work on offshore wind farms can be a real cost factor for operators. Deutsche Windtechnik Offshore und Consulting GmbH has positioned itself on the market with individual service packages for the maintenance of complete wind farms, above as well as under water. The company is looking to reduce costs by leveraging synergies and flexible teams.
As an independent service provider, Deutsche Windtechnik Offshore is entering the market for maintenance of offshore wind farms with a clear strategy. The company, which has 100 employees, has been intensively preparing for this step since it was founded in 2013. “Aside from established manufacturers, there is currently no company that provides service and maintenance for wind turbines or complete wind farms from a single source. Our goal is to provide service for projects in Germany, Benelux, Denmark and United Kingdom. In these countries, the initial contracts with manufacturers such as Siemens and Vestas are now ending and will be re-tendered by the energy suppliers”, said Jens Landwehr, managing director of Deutsche Windtechnik Offshore und Consulting GmbH.
While manufacturers only need to ensure the maintenance of the turbines, operators need to coordinate and assign a variety of tasks on a regular basis for a period of at least twenty years. This includes recurring tests, proof of stability and inspection intervals, which are mandated by insurance companies, but also the maintenance of the entire infrastructure surrounding the wind turbine. This pertains to the transition pieces, cables, and the foundations and substations with their electrical and mechanical subsystems. These tasks cost a lot of money at sea and increase the pressure on efficient maintenance. “This is why we are relying on synergies and flexible teams that can use their training to perform a variety of tasks during deployments, which minimises the cost. This interface management is our leverage to reduce costs”, Landwehr said.
This strategy is clearly being met with a high level of acceptance on the market because the new company is now operating at eleven Dutch and German offshore wind farms. In order to increase the synergies for operators and investors, the service provider has signed cooperation agreements with companies such as the crane manufacturer Palfinger, Schneider Elektrik and CWC, the world’s leading manufacturer of active cathodic corrosion protection systems. The agreement with CWC alone includes maintenance work on corrosion protection systems for 284 foundations. “We work together very closely with suppliers and obtain certification from them. This has advantages for everyone involved.
