DOWNVInD
(Distant Offshore Windfarms with No Visual Impact in Deep Waters)

12 June 2006 London Evening Meeting

Report

Flyer

Presentations

DOWNVInD

Brain G Redden, Director, Nautilus Associates Ltd

The DOWNVInD R&D/Demonstrator project objectives are 'To develop the technologies, techniques and processes to enable cost effective installation and operation of large capacity Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) offshore in deep water'.

The Demonstrator made substantial progress in summer 2006 with the first of two REpower 5M turbines (WTG A) installed in a novel two stand operation: (1) the substructure was sent on the seabed; and (2) the complete Tower/WTG was loaded onto a heavy lift vessel, (from te quay where it was pre-assembled) transported offshore and installed on the substructure in one lift. Substructure 2 was set nearby. WTG B will be installed on it in summer 2007. The two WTGs will be field trialled to 2009 to test the technologies and verify the technical/commercial viability of a full-scale deepwater development.

The DOWNVInD eighteen-member consortium is coordinated by Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd, which are the main funders with SSE. Support is also provided by the EC, DTI and Scottish Executive.