Bold components require bold port infrastructure

Offshore wind turbines do not differ from onshore wind turbines in terms of their appearance. On the other hand, in terms of size and weight, power plants erected at sea are considerably more substantial than landbased wind power plants. They also set their specific requirements for the port’s field areas and wharves.

Olli Takalammi, Project Manager of the Laine offshore wind farm from OX2, says that the port of Kokkola was selected as the company’s port partner for several reasons. One of them is the location, i.e. the port is located geographically relatively close to the project area, which especially helps the construction phase. When it takes less time to move from the port to the sea, then there is more time for the actual installation and commissioning.

Another reason is the need for space, and the opportunities available in the port of Kokkola to expand the field areas from the current one.

– The construction phase of an offshore wind farm in particular requires a lot of space. More of it is also needed in Kokkola, but Port of Kokkola already has good investment plans. The need for space is not only for temporary storage of components, but there is a lot of pre-assembly and commissioning in offshore wind power, which takes place in the port,

Olli Takalammi says.

The pre-assembly and commissioning in the port speed up the actual installation of the power plants at sea, where wind conditions and sea conditions make work chal- lenging. If in onshore wind power it generally takes 4-5 days to set up, at sea it should be ready in one day.

PORT INFRASTRUCTURE, in addition to the available hectares, demands are made on, among other things, the load carrying capacity of the field areas and, above all, the quay, so that it is sufficient for large components. Electricity infrastructure is also needed for the commissioning of the power plants.

The deep channel into the port of Kokkola perfectly serves the ships that transport the components to the port. In addition to them, you can see Jack-Up ships, called workhorses for heavy lifting, on the water during the construction of offshore wind power. They have legs, with the help of which the ship is lifted into the air and thus provides a stable lift for the crane. This requires the load-bearing capacity of the sea bed both at sea and in the port. Power plant manufacturers also play a big role in construction and commissioning, and they also define their own needs for the ports.

– Ports play an important role throughout the technical life cycle of offshore wind farms, Olli Takalammi refers, for example, to maintenance work during operation. In the initial phase, the collaboration between Port of Kokkola and OX2 means a great deal of mutual exchange of information about plans and possible changes, in order to ensure a good end result that serves the whole within the planned schedule.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) phase of the Laine project is currently underway, and Takalammi estimates that the EIA will be available at the turn of next year.

– OX2’s principle is to have an open dialogue with various stakeholders from the beginning of the projects. Even in offshore wind power projects, we have organized additional information events that have not been connected to the EIA process. By doing this, we can better take into account different points of view.

If things progress smoothly, the construction of the offshore wind farm could start in 2027, according to Takalammi, and the actual construction of the power plants would begin at the end of the decade.