Consortium secures NOK 75.2 million grant

By: Chloe Emanuel 14/12/2023 Nekkar ASA

General Windfarms

Nekkar ASA spearheads a project consortium, joined by Kongsberg Maritime, DOF, a global wind farm developer, and esteemed research institutions. This collaboration has clinched a NOK 75.2 million research and innovation grant under the Norwegian government's esteemed Green Platform Initiative.

The primary aim of this consortium, inclusive of GCE Node, NORCE, Sustainable Energy Catapult Center, Sintef Ocean, and University of Agder, is to engineer a solution for main component replacement (MCR) on offshore wind turbines. By targeting enhanced efficiency and safety, this initiative strives to minimize downtime, costs, and revenue loss.

Central to the project is the development of remote-controlled, self-hoisting lifting equipment leveraging Nekkar's SkyWalker wind turbine installation tool. This innovation will aim to facilitate seamless on-site replacement of vital components such as gearboxes and blades on offshore wind turbines.

Moreover, the consortium will aim to pioneer a 3D motion-compensated crane to elevate the SkyWalker from a floating vessel to a floating turbine. Simultaneously, specifications for a multi-purpose vessel, integrating SkyWalker and the 3D crane requirements, will be formulated.

The ultimate goal? To create a versatile MCR solution applicable across both floating and fixed-bottom wind turbine generators, catering to both new constructions and existing installations by various Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

However, the realization of this transformative project hinges upon the capital contributions from each project partner to activate the NOK 75.2 million funding from the Green Platform Initiative. The consortium anticipates finalizing these arrangements by the first quarter of 2024, with detailed updates on the project and funding thereafter.

The Green Platform Initiative, a cornerstone of the Norwegian government's commitment to green growth, aims to stimulate substantial investments in eco-friendly solutions and products. By fostering research, innovation, and industrialization, it seeks to revolutionize the entire value chain, from conception to commercialization of sustainable products and services.

For more information about offshore wind farm projects across the globe, click here.

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Consortium secures NOK 75.2 million grant

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