A project consortium, led by Nekkar, has received a conditional award for a Norwegian grant to develop a remote-controlled, self-hoisting lifting solution for the offshore wind industry. Valued at Nkr75.2 million (€6.5 million), the research and innovation grant, facilitated through the Norwegian government's Green Platform Initiative, aims to create a safe and efficient method for main component replacement (MCR) on offshore wind turbines. The goal is to reduce time, cost, and revenue loss associated with downtime during MCR.
Nekkar is spearheading the consortium, which includes notable participants such as Kongsberg Maritime, DOF, a global wind farm developer (undisclosed), GCE Node, NORCE, Sustainable Energy Catapult Center, Sintef Ocean, and the University of Agder.
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The primary focus of the project is to develop a remote-controlled, self-hoisting lifting equipment based on Nekkar's SkyWalker turbine installation tool. This innovative solution is designed to move vertically along the wind turbine tower, facilitating the replacement of main components such as gearboxes and blades.
Additionally, the project involves the development of a 3D motion-compensated crane to lift SkyWalker from a vessel to a floating turbine. Specifications for a multi-purpose vessel, integrating the requirements of SkyWalker and the 3D crane, will also be part of the project.
Beyond the technical aspects, the consortium plans to evaluate the overall impact of the solution on a wind farm perspective, utilizing and enhancing existing tools for offshore logistics, vessel design, and marine operations. The ultimate objective is to create a versatile main component replacement solution applicable to both floating and fixed-bottom wind turbines, catering to both new installations and the existing installed base.
The realization of the project is contingent upon the approval of capital contributions from each project partner to activate the Nkr75.2 million grant. The consortium anticipates concluding this process in the first quarter of 2024, at which point more details about the project and funding will be disclosed.
