REpower Systems AG, one of the leading turbine producers in the German wind energy market, has been proposed by the pan-European DOWNViND consortium to design and construct two 5MW demonstration wind turbines. These would be installed in summer 2006 in a water depth of 40 metres next to the Talisman-operated Beatrice oilfield 25 kilometres off the east coast of Scotland. The appointment is subject to European Commission approval.
REpower has extensive experience in the development of state-of-the-art turbines and is about to inaugurate a 5MW wind turbine, thought to be the world’s largest, at the River Elbe in northern Germany. The €30 million DOWNViND project is Europe’s largest renewable energy research and technology development programme. It has been established as a catalyst for commercialising deepwater wind farm technology and currently includes 15 different organisations from six European countries.
The demonstrator project will test technologies for deepwater wind farms distant from shore, with no visual impact. The results will help determine if large-scale developments of this type are a practical source of renewable energy. The power generated by the turbines will be used at the Beatrice platforms and will operate alongside Talisman’s existing operation without affecting production. First electricity generation is expected to begin late in 2006.
During the four-year period of the demonstrator project the DOWNViND partners will study the environmental impact, collect performance data, look for ways to reduce costs and develop operating procedures. If the project is successful, the construction of a full-scale offshore wind farm will be considered. A commercial venture could generate upwards of one gigawatt of electricity, more than enough to power the city of Aberdeen.
Paul Blakeley, Vice President, Talisman Energy (UK) Limited, which is managing and coordinating DOWNViND on behalf of the European Commission, commented: “REpower’s experience and track record made them an obvious choice of partner for what is clearly a critical part of the project and crucial to its overall success. The company’s current involvement in major developments in northern Germany, with turbines of similar size and capacity to those we are planning, will ensure we have access to the very latest in turbine technology.”
Matthias Schubert, Chief Technical Officer of REpower Systems AG, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Talisman and their partners to supply wind turbines for this high profile project. For REpower, this is our entry into the offshore wind market. We are confident that our experience in the development of wind turbines of the megawatt and multi-megawatt class will be of benefit to DOWNViND.”
DOWNVInD (Distant Offshore Windfarms with No Visual Impact in Deepwater), aims to understand the impact of deepwater wind farms, prove the deepwater wind farm concept, share learnings across the industry and pioneer unobtrusive deepwater wind farms. DOWNVInD consists of the following organizations: Stockholm, Lund, KTH, Aberdeen and Strathclyde Universities; ECN and Riso Agencies; Talisman Energy (UK) Limited; Scottish and Southern Energy; EdF; Airicole; Germanischer Lloyd; PB Consulting; Hammarlund Consulting; and Teknikgruppen.
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