EA
Eagle-Access system
Publieke samenvatting / Public summary
Aanleiding
Each offshore wind turbine needs regular maintenance. The increasing number of offshore wind turbines parcs and the required performance at sea calls for a year round access possibility to the platforms, no matter the weather conditions. With the increasing demands for transferring people, cargo and supplies, even in poorer weather conditions, the boundaries of current access systems have been reached. At heavy sea, during storms, it is currently too dangerous to put men or equipment on the platforms or near a wind turbine. Available options, like a flexible bridge or crane, have a limited reaching distance, are heavy and very expensive.
Doelstelling
The aim of the project is to have an access system able to put personnel and equipment on offshore wind turbines during heavier seas and at a lower cost than existing systems on the market. This lowers maintenance costs as well as the downtime of the turbines. This can make the production of offshore wind energy cheaper.
Korte omschrijving
In this project the main applicants, its partner and subcontractors will develop and test a prototype on land. With this prototype we can simulate and research the accuracy of our solution in several conditions. Thereafter this prototype will be optimized, installed on a vessel and used for the sea trials with a shipping company.
Resultaat
With the pilot project we will demonstrate by a series of system tests (various FAT tests mechanical/ electrical , HAT, Sea Trials and probably modifications and re-testing) that the access system can meet its specifications and improves the deployment capability of a platform supply vessel (PSV). The costs of the vessel with the eagle-access system will be 75 – 89 % lower than products of the market leader. The cheaper access costs will decrease the maintenance costs. The improved deployment capacity of the PSV to transfer man and materials will increase the number of operational days of the wind turbines with 5 days. For the EAGLE-ACCESS 1 ton (EA1t) system this means the Dutch Government can save 765 m€ on SDE+ subsidies due to lower maintenance costs and the down time of the turbines.
Each offshore wind turbine needs regular maintenance. The increasing number of offshore wind turbines parcs and the required performance at sea calls for a year round access possibility to the platforms, no matter the weather conditions. With the increasing demands for transferring people, cargo and supplies, even in poorer weather conditions, the boundaries of current access systems have been reached. At heavy sea, during storms, it is currently too dangerous to put men or equipment on the platforms or near a wind turbine. Available options, like a flexible bridge or crane, have a limited reaching distance, are heavy and very expensive.
Doelstelling
The aim of the project is to have an access system able to put personnel and equipment on offshore wind turbines during heavier seas and at a lower cost than existing systems on the market. This lowers maintenance costs as well as the downtime of the turbines. This can make the production of offshore wind energy cheaper.
Korte omschrijving
In this project the main applicants, its partner and subcontractors will develop and test a prototype on land. With this prototype we can simulate and research the accuracy of our solution in several conditions. Thereafter this prototype will be optimized, installed on a vessel and used for the sea trials with a shipping company.
Resultaat
With the pilot project we will demonstrate by a series of system tests (various FAT tests mechanical/ electrical , HAT, Sea Trials and probably modifications and re-testing) that the access system can meet its specifications and improves the deployment capability of a platform supply vessel (PSV). The costs of the vessel with the eagle-access system will be 75 – 89 % lower than products of the market leader. The cheaper access costs will decrease the maintenance costs. The improved deployment capacity of the PSV to transfer man and materials will increase the number of operational days of the wind turbines with 5 days. For the EAGLE-ACCESS 1 ton (EA1t) system this means the Dutch Government can save 765 m€ on SDE+ subsidies due to lower maintenance costs and the down time of the turbines.