OFFSHORE WIND AND MARINE ENERGY An integrated & innovative approach to offshore engineering
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NEW POWER TO OFFSHORE WIND & MARINE ENERGY Offshore wind is the new focus of utilities, business developers and suppliers aiming to meet European 2020 targets. Offshore wind offers many advantages over onshore wind among these: fast-evolving technology, rising fuel prices and changing regulations. These with international standards securing greater safety and common methods for determining wind turbine performance and design, are all central to this shift. Since 2001 the power rating of wind turbines has increased from 2 MW to state-of-the-art > 5 MW turbines. Today’s wind farms are located further offshore (up to 60 km) and in deeper waters (up to 50 m). By 2020, global wind power generation capacity is expected to exceed 671 GW with 109 GW generated offshore. By 2050 this will reach up to 2016 GW with 652 GW (32%) located at sea - no less than a six fold increase in installed offshore capacity. As oceans cover 75% of the earth’s surface, marine energy is equally gaining the interest of utilities around the world. This is linked to Governments granting permit requests, setting targets and developing roadmaps as well as increased incentives and governmental supports. In line with such decisions, marine capacity is expected to surpass 3.6 GW by 2020 in Europe and up to 25 GW globally. By 2050, marine energies could account for 2.2% of global electricity demand.
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Wind turbine erection
Offshore Transformer Platform (OTP)
A FULLY INTEGRATED APPROACH With its international, independent and multidisciplinary expertise, Tractebel Engineering (as Contractor, Owner’s Engineer or Consultant Engineer) offers an integrated approach covering all aspects: legal, technical, contractual, quality insurance, certification and environmental issues of your offshore wind and marine energy projects. OFFSHORE WIND: Active in this sector for over 10 years, with experience gained on over 30 European and International offshore wind projects, we can support you with innovative engineering solutions in every project phase; from siting and energy yield
calculations, undersea foundations and transmission systems, to realisation, project management and more. In every way, we will ensure your project is feasible, yielding maximum economic return and minimal risk. MARINE ENERGIES: Our competences and know-how are fully transferrable to your marine energy projects: tidal and wave energy converters, tidal power stations, OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) and osmotic pressure. Our experience has already assisted numerous clients in the first stages of their marine energy park development.
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Gravity base construction
Sea cable laying
Wind turbine pre-assembly
THE RIGHT KNOW-HOW Tractebel Engineering and its subsidiary IMDC have all the competences and state-of-the-art software needed to successfully bring your offshore project to life and meet your goals in electricity production, transmission and distribution. Surveys & investigations of met-ocean and soil data Met-ocean and soil data surveys form the basis of site conditions and workability analysis as well as the substructures’ design. We can organise and implement these surveys and investigations anywhere in the world. Our services range from preparing specifications to work supervision, executing specific surveys and producing factual data reports. IMDC even has its own measurement device for wave and current surveys.
Site condition & workability analysis The definition of wind, geotechnical, morphodynamic and hydrodynamic design parameters is key to the project design process and can lead to significant cost savings. Based on the survey data obtained from long-term datasets or on-site measurements, we analyse all vital site conditions to provide site specific design parameters. Our analysis methodologies include state-of-the-art techniques, statistics and modelling and are recognised by certification authorities (GL, DNV, etc.).
entrance (J-tube) and cable connections. In line with the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic conditions we will design the most appropriate scour protection, defining size and materials needed. We also relate the proposed protection system to a monitoring and maintenance programme, allowing optimisations in the balance between capital investment costs and operational costs.
Cables Most offshore wind farms are located in areas where other marine cables, pipelines, telecom cables etc. are already operational. Seabed dynamics, sandbanks, natural habitat or military areas and the presence of various seabed materials or obstacles, further impact the definition of electrical cable trajectories. As the shortest route is not always the most economical one, we provide a cable trajectory analysis taking everything into account, including installation techniques and land-fall design, resulting in trajectory optimisation.
Electrical basic design
Accurate wind data allows us to select the most appropriate wind turbines for your site, correctly calculate energy generation and optimise the park layout to achieve maximum MW & MWh and economic returns. Using different methodologies, we combine data from numerous meteorological stations with current data obtained from measurement masts, or select the appropriate process and challenge the data and data provider. We can also assist with the detailed design, installation and data collection of an on-site measuring mast.
The unique specifications of each offshore wind park call for a tailor-made electrical transmission system. Our engineering scope covers the basic network design, from the MV switchgear in the turbine masts, to the HV switching station and HV export cable to the transmission grid. We will model a complete electrical system and study in detail all network scenarios (production patterns, normal and exceptional operations, emergency supply in case of network failures, etc.). We also examine specific constraints in order to optimise equipment and components (simple design, reduction of sensitive parts, etc.). Safety and emergency operating conditions are also a major concern.
Substructures
Electrical components
Our experience covers all types of substructures for wind turbines and offshore HV stations notably jacket, monopole and gravity base foundations. We can help define the design requirements for primary structures and project specific requirements related to secondary and provisional structures. Producing integrated conceptual, basic and detailed design calculations, we will analyse the best solutions in terms of execution, materials and environmental conditions. Our experts also specialise in integrated modelling of the structure, soil, water and wind turbine loading interaction.
The design, reliability and maintenance of offshore electrical equipment need special consideration. We will conduct technical analyses on the HV and MV electrical systems to optimise the electrical components (number and location of platforms, power transformers, reactive compensation means, HV & MV switchgear, power cables, emergency supplies and auxiliary systems), paying heed to the maritime environment and the need to install equipment in reduced volumes.
Wind analysis & wind turbine selection
Scour protection Scour protection is required to assure the seabed level design and prevent seabed erosion, taking into account the interaction with the foundation stability (based on geotechnical calculations), the cable
Electrical operations Unpredictable power generation behaviour and grid requirements that do not necessarily follow the active and reactive power demands of conventi onal power plants require the design of simple and reliable protection and control interfaces.
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Jacket foundation transport
Transition piece transport
On-shore cable laying
Operation & maintenance
Health, Safety & environment (HSE)
We also suggest proven remote control and monitoring systems to control production and monitor sensitive equipment to anticipate possible failures at an early stage. This has a direct impact on the availability of your offshore wind farm by reducing maintenance works to the minimum.
The target of each project is zero accidents and no harm to the environment. Our experts will work in close collaboration with you to manage all health, safety and environment related matters throughout the entire project lifetime to help you achieve this target.
Operation & Maintenance (O&M)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
O&M costs are a substantial part of the total ownership cost of an offshore wind farm. A good O&M strategy is therefore crucial to optimise efficiencies. Based on our experience, we will assist you in defining the most optimal O&M strategy for each project and can advise you during the execution of the O&M strategy.
In accordance with legislation, we will assess the positive or negative impact that your proposed project may have on the environment. Taking into consideration all natural, social and economic aspects such as the seabed, water, climatic factors, air, noise, flora, fauna, biodiversity, natural heritage, human and safety, we will identify, evaluate and propose solutions to mitigate all relevant effects of your project.
HIGH-TECH SOFTWARE We use hi-tech software, extended by numerous in-house developed programs based on our know-how, expertise and experience, to meet your challenges: ANSYS ASAS and MECHANICAL – Integrated FE modelling of offshore structures such as foundations for wind turbines
PLAXIS 3D – 3D analysis of deformation and stability in geotechnical engineering
Arc View and MapInfo – Geographic information system (GIS) software for visualising, managing, creating, and analysing geographic data
GRL WEAP – Wave equation analyses and driveability studies LPILE – Analysis of piles and drilled shafts under lateral loading SWAN – Wave modelling
DELFT 3D – Hydrodynamic and sediment transport modelling
WAsP – Wind atlas analysis and application
Eurostag – Dynamic grid modelling
Windfarmer and WindPro – Design and planning of wind farms
PLAXIS 2D Dynamics – Model for the simulation of soil movement
MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERTISE FOR EVERY STAGE OF YOUR OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT
Project Feasibility Analysis
FEASIBILITY & BASIC DESIGN
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
permitting & licensing design
SPECIFICATION & CONTRACTING
Fabrication & Transport & Installation supervisions
Detailed design review
Commissioning
Realization Follow-up
Operation & maintenance assistance
assistance
Decommissioning
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Offshore wind park
our services Owner’s engineer
Due diligence & feasibility
We can advise and accompany you from the beginning of a project through to its commissioning. We will work by your side providing essential services from contracting, project realisation, supervision & follow-up of engineering and site activities, amongst many others your project may require.
Tractebel Engineering offers due diligence services to its clients as and when required. Areas include validation of conformance, estimated schedule and cost, construction requirements and costs, permits and environmental assessments.
Project Management & Development Support We offer support throughout your project, from the start (permit request) through to commissioning and even decommissioning. Our services and know-how range from feasibility analysis, permitting & licensing, basic & detailed design, realisation & construction, operation & maintenance and future decommissioning.
Contract & interface management One of our numerous key competences is the efficient coordination of all execution aspects of a project through contract interface management. It enables us to control every stage of the project and assign and supervise the work that has to be done in each phase.
Risk analysis Analysing the risks associated with a project is another key Tractebel Engineering skill. The financial, economical, timing and execution risks are assessed and the proper mitigation scenario’s are studied and prepared. This is particularly relevant in the harsh environment of an offshore wind farm.
Concession File & Permit Request preparation The starting point of any project is the submittal of a permit request to the appropriate Governmental body or agency. We have assisted numerous clients all around the world with this process and can help you to submit the best concession file and / or permit request possible in order to substantially increase your chances of success.
Workability analysis Work offshore is highly dependent on weather conditions, so contractors’ quotations and schedules include inevitable weather delays. Using advanced software and wind, wave and weather statistics, we can realistically calculate the workability of a project and ensure feasible schedules. We can translate this into a contractual weather downtime protocol.
Quality control & Assurance We apply an effective quality management system, includin g processes to assure product conformity to our customers’ and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Our quality controllers will follow, monitor, verify and validate planned tests and inspections, while our quality managers ensure the correct implementation of processes and liaise with external parties on quality matters.
Our project references cover a wide range of services in the lifecycle of offshore wind projects as well as emerging marine energy and tidal energy projects. Discover some of our key references on www.tractebel-engineering-gdfsuez.com
March 2012 I Ed. External Communications Tractebel Engineering I Design www.concerto.be
where we are HEADQUARTERS BELGIUM Avenue Ariane, 7 B-1200 Brussels Tel. +32 2 773 99 11
offices BRAZIL Rua Guajajaras, 43 Centro 30180-909 BR-Belo Horizonte / MG Tel. +55 31 3249 7600 CZECH REPUBLIC Pernerova, 168 CZ-531 54 Pardubice Tel. +420 466 818 111 FRANCE Le Delage 5, rue du 19 mars 1962 F-92622 Gennevilliers CEDEX Tel. +33 1 41 85 03 69
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ROMANIA Alexandru Constantinescu, 6 RO-011473 Bucharest Tel. +40 31 2248 101
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Al-Shafar Tower TECOM (AL BARSHA) PO BOX 191795 Dubaï tel. +971 4 4477 913
POLAND Duleby Street, 5 PL-40 833 Katowice Tel. + 48 32 3588-888
Other offices in Algeria, Chile, Panama, Thailand, TURKEY on www.tractebel-engineering-gdfsuez.com/offices
Tractebel engineering today A leading international engineering consultancy company, Tractebel Engineering is part of GDF SUEZ, an industrial group with the financial strength to address the challenges of the future. With approximately 3,300 people in 20 countries, we offer life-cycle engineering solutions for power, nuclear, gas, industry and infrastructure clients. Services include a full range of engineering assignments: Architect Engineer, Owner’s Engineer and Consulting Engineer. Our customers are private and public companies, as well as national and international institutions.
Tractebel Engineering Avenue Ariane, 7 B-1200 Brussels - BELGIUM TE_renewable@gdfsuez.com www.tractebel-engineering-gdfsuez.com