Wind Energy – Subsea Inspections
Deutsche Windtechnik has signed several contracts for underwater inspections at offshore wind farms in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
As part of the sustainable, cost-efficient cluster campaign approach, more than 300 annual inspection reports will be generated in the next two years with the help of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
Amongst others Deutsche Windtechnik will conduct back-to-back inspections in Trianel Windpark Borkum I, Sandbank, DanTysk and Butendiek wind farms this year as part of the campaign.
While the contract scope varies for each wind farm, the inspections will include a range of structures such as jacket and monopile foundations of wind turbines, substations and meteorological masts.
The work also includes cable inspections that cover everything from the entry point on the tower to the point of burial. The resulting video footage, commentary and reports will provide the wind farm operators with an overview of the condition of their assets, enabling them to make well-founded financial decisions for the future. Identifying issues early can minimise downtime and extend the lifetime of a wind turbine.
“The outcomes of our subsea inspections are enabling clients to learn far more about the subsea status of their valuable assets, well beyond standard authority requirements,” said Niels Noordeloos, Business Development Manager at Deutsche Windtechnik, regarding the range of inspections to be carried out. The reports contain an evaluation of every turbine location, including damage assessments and recommendations to prevent future damages.
“The reports provide insights about the condition and consequently the value of the investment below water. This information can be extremely important when it comes to budgeting decisions because it helps build solid arguments in favour or against an investment.”
