Feeding the Beast: challenges to optimize the offshore wind supply chain
Tooling for feeder barge operations, to lift wind turbine components from supply barges
How to de-risk and improve efficiency for feeder barge operations
At Seaqualize we’ve always believed that Feedering will come to the rest of the world, after it has matured in US operations. In that, it’s just like jazz , rock and roll and iphones:) Of course, a lot will depend on how the first large scale feeder barge operations in the US offshore wind market will succeed. For that, 2023 will be the grand opening of the ball, with the start of both the Vineyard Wind 1 and the South Fork Wind offshore wind park installation projects. We are looking forward to seeing how this will play out, and happy we can play a small but vital role in this development.
End of last year, Hans Simons, of HOTAI Energy released a white paper on both the need for such operations, but also the risk surrounding them. How is the market searching for solutions to de-risk that operation? How much cost, time and carbon emission could be saved by applying such operations? What works, and what doesn’t?.
Some of his key conclusions:
How can time efficiencies be achieved?
The crane vessel is key in the installation process. Keep it at the wind farm site – to avoid any cascading loss of time as result of transportation, port congestion and waiting on weather
Keeping her in the field means that the WTIV must be fed by transportation vessels like tug-barge combinations or purpose-built feeder ships
Distance is a factor, but the loading and offloading time of the transportation vessel is at least as important. If that is not done efficiently, the added value of the feeders suffers
Where in the installation supply chain can cost be cut?
Transportation of the components into the wind farm is fairly straightforward work that can be done by vessels that are much cheaper than a wind turbine installation vessel
Planning can be vastly improved by using multiple feeders, but this comes at a price
State-of-the-art motion compensating equipment is indispensable for safe offshore transfer of the turbine components
The actual feeder vessel has to be the main cost saver. Using standard barges and tugs will have more impact than purpose-built feeders
US offshore wind will make a compelling case for the feeder model in protected markets. Initial calculations show ample room to save installation cost. Foreign-flag WTIVs and their US-flag feeder vessels should be an attractive and competitive alternative to US-flag WTIV's - allowing the ambitious installation targets to be met.
Have a look at the full white paper here.
He has spoken to a wide range of industry experts, directly involved in companies that are working solve these issues. It’s a smart piece, good for all to read up and form an opinion about. We’re keen to hear your thoughts as well!