The wind energy value chain:
Step 3: Installation

How can mobilisation and installation be streamlined for onshore and offshore wind farms? 

Road access to the wind farm can pose a challenge for onshore installations. For offshore fields, vessels and cranes usually carry out the installation. Operating weather windows quickly becomes a bottleneck during this phase - regardless of whether the structural design is fixed or floating. 

Based on 30 years of experience with on and offshore design, we see that focusing on these logistic elements early on allows for a smoother installation phase and better project completion.

That is why we opt for a modular-based design which gives flexibility and low cost. 

Use simulations to prepare the installation and crew 

Our virtual test centre enables quantitative and qualitative assessment of new installation methods, vessel designs, new service vessel designs and concepts for transferring personnel between service vessels and wind turbine foundations based on limiting environmental conditions concerning safety and efficiency. Our cloud-based simulator services are suited for feasibility and engineering studies but can also help train your crew anytime, anywhere. 

With our cloud-based maritime training simulator, you always have the most recent content and training methods available. The focus is on flexibility, allowing you to receive high-quality training remotely with equipment suited to your team's exact needs. This creates a realistic simulation tailored to any situation or processes you wish to simulate. Depending on your needs, the cloud concept comes in different versions, with or without augmented reality. 

Monitoring solutions provide early warning of possible flaws 

A structural monitoring system for offshore wind turbine foundations provides a status of the health and condition of the structure and an early sign of potential defects. 

If you, as a wind turbine owner, investor or operations manager, want to validate the health of your investment, you should monitor the foundation and the rest of the wind turbine for loads, vibration, fatigue stress, temperature and corrosion. Doing this ensures that the turbine maintains its functionality, and you avoid tremendous costs regarding repair and retrofit. 

Prevent future faults with condition monitoring systems  

Early warning of flaws enables you to act and correct them in time, avoiding possible severe weaknesses in the structure. Detecting the cause of defects helps prevent future faults and avoid flaws in similar wind turbine foundations. You can use the data for corrective actions and optimising sub-components and design. 

Structural health monitoring systems are all customer-specific, and we design and optimise a condition monitoring solution adjusted to your needs, information needs and budget. 

We can design, supply and install unique condition monitoring systems for wind turbine foundations and assist with the subsequent data processing, evaluation, assessment and consultancy and field services to customers who do not have internal specialists on staff. 

Fast, flexible, agile and ready to adapt  

Our interdisciplinary team delivers ultimate quality. With more than 1,000 employees across 30 offices in 6 countries and a dedicated local partner network, we are a market leader in specialist consultancy, testing, inspection and training.