Ocean Installer has been appointed by Cerulean Winds to join the consortium developing the 1GW Aspen floating offshore wind project in the North Sea. The Norwegian contractor will contribute its expertise and fleet of vessels, which have long been used in subsea oil and gas construction, to support the development of this significant renewable energy project.
Ocean Installer stated that its established workforce and resources, honed over decades of working in the subsea oil and gas industry, will require minimal adaptation to be applied to the floating wind sector. The company will collaborate closely with Haventus, the owner of the Port of Ardersier, on dry storage, batched installation, and the development of quick connect/disconnect systems to streamline processes for future floating wind projects.
Dan Jackson, Founding Director of Cerulean Winds, emphasized the importance of leveraging expertise from the oil and gas sector for the success of floating wind (FLOW) technology in the North Sea. “For FLOW to be successful in the North Sea we've got to use expertise and experience from the oil and gas sector to turbo-charge the speed of cost reduction – that is what Ocean Installer are bringing to our project,” he said.
He added that the capabilities provided by Ocean Installer would be key to developing a standardized process aimed at reducing installation costs and bringing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of floating wind closer to that of fixed offshore wind technologies.
Gregor Scott, UK Managing Director at Ocean Installer, expressed his enthusiasm about the project, saying, “We are very pleased to have been selected as the marine construction and operations partner for the Cerulean Winds alliance. It is another reminder of our commitment to using our specialist expertise and collaborative approach to unlock energy, in all its forms, from the global oceans.”
Ocean Installer will handle key tasks post-Final Investment Decision (FID), including mooring system installation, inter-array cable systems, and the marshalling of floating units during the fabrication phase. The company will also manage the tow-out and hook-up phases. Drawing on its extensive experience in supporting floating oil and gas developments, the firm is well positioned to deliver green energy solutions in the North Sea.
The Aspen project, part of a broader initiative that also includes the Beech and Cedar projects, will feature over 300 floating wind turbines, marking a significant step in the UK's transition to renewable energy.
