SENSEWind's self-installing turbine assembly technology has been found to potentially reduce the levelised cost of energy (LCoE) by 4.7% in large-scale fixed-bottom offshore wind farms, according to a report from the accreditation agency DNV. The savings, which could amount to approximately £1 billion over the operational life of a project, have been attributed to the technology's innovative approach to turbine installation.
The SENSEWind system uses a bespoke carriage to transport the rotor nacelle assembly to the top of the turbine tower, enabling smaller and less expensive jack-up vessels to be used during the installation process. This reduction in vessel size is expected to significantly lower both installation and maintenance costs for offshore wind farms.
Independent studies conducted previously suggest that similar LCoE reductions could be achieved in floating offshore wind projects as well as onshore wind schemes. According to SENSEWind, a 2GW floating wind project could see LCoE savings of 9%, amounting to nearly £3 billion over the life of the project.
The company's first commercial application will be onshore, where it is collaborating with a turbine manufacturer on a 6MW unit. SENSEWind plans to later scale its technology for use in fixed-bottom offshore wind and eventually for floating wind farms, offering an alternative to the traditional tow-back-to-port operations used in turbine installation.
Patrick Geraets, CEO of SENSEWind, highlighted the significance of the findings, stating: “The results from DNV for fixed-bottom validates our approach to solving the increasingly difficult problem of installation and long-term maintenance of ever larger turbines. I am not aware of any other technology under development today which can deliver the level of saving predicted for the SENSE system.”
Julian Brown, Chairman of SENSEWind, emphasized the broader benefits of the technology, noting: “Not only does our technology reduce installation time and costs, utilising widely available vessels, it provides the opportunity for a different approach to major component replacement, so the turbine is up and running again quickly.”
SENSEWind is planning to install a 2MW onshore demonstrator later this year, supported by UK government grant funding. The company is also working on scaling the system to support a 6MW-8MW onshore commercial prototype.
Chris Walker, Chairman of Muirhall Energy, a lead investor in SENSEWind, welcomed the findings of the DNV report, saying: “The DNV report is very encouraging and gives credibility to the opportunity the SENSE technology offers. I am keen to deploy the technology on Muirhall's 1GW pipeline of onshore projects as soon as we can identify an OEM partner to work with.”
SENSEWind's technology has the potential to play a significant role in reducing the cost of wind energy, offering a promising solution to the ongoing challenges of offshore turbine installation and maintenance.
