The global offshore wind industry is developing the next generation of offshore wind turbines. These turbines can be more than 270 metres high and are fitted with blades of 120 metres long. Offshore installation vessels currently available on the market are facing increasing difficulties to install these types of turbines due to the turbines’ sizes and installation heights, as well as the ever-increasing foundation dimensions. PES brings you the latest update from the Jan De Nul Group.

Getting ready for the next generation of offshore wind projects

The four legs, with lattice structure, will be able to operate in water depths of approximately 80m. Credit: The Jan De Nul Group

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Based on the above findings the Jan De Nul Group decided to design and order the Voltaire earlier this year. The Voltaire is a revolutionary offshore jack-up installation vessel, named after the French writer, historian and philosopher François-Marie Arouet, known by his pseudonym Voltaire and as an icon of the European Enlightenment of the 18th century. Both Voltaire and our jack-up vessel are pioneers within their field of expertise.

This is the third vessel of its kind in the Jan

De Nul fleet, after the Vole au vent and the Taillevent. With an unrivalled crane capacity of over 3,000 tonnes, this jack-up vessel will be able to support the renewable energy industry to build the future wind farms at sea. ‘Upon her delivery in 2022, we will be capable of efficiently installing the next generation of offshore wind turbine generators and foundations,’ says Philippe Hutse, Offshore Director at Jan De Nul Group.

This investment is a logical step forward in the development of Jan De Nul’s offshore

wind capacities. ‘The third jack-up vessel will enable us to cope with our increased number of offshore wind projects worldwide,’ Philippe Hutse continues. ‘We recognize the global trend towards larger wind turbines for increased green energy demands. The Voltaire will have all the required specifications to meet the upcoming challenges.’

Breaking new ground in emission control technology

The Voltaire will be environmentally compliant by taking the same highly advanced emission control technology on board as all other Ultra-Low Emission vessels in the Jan De Nul fleet. ‘At Jan De Nul Group, we face environmental challenges by focusing on minimalizing our footprint on ambient air quality and climate. Air pollution is one of the biggest dangers to public health. Marine construction activities are mostly situated in the vicinity of coastlines, ports and harbours, and densely populated areas,’ explains Hutse. ‘As a worldwide leader in marine construction, we now break new ground in emission control technology. The latest generation of our vessels are equipped, with a filtering technique for exhaust gases, which complies with the stricter European land and inland waterways emission regulations EURO STAGE V. Whatever fuel or engine technology you use to run your equipment, you always have to filter the exhaust gases.’

The Jan De Nul Group therefore designed the Voltaire running on gasoil, but fitted with a highly advanced exhaust gas filtering system, by means of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Jan De Nul has already applied this pioneering emission control technology on two trailing suction hopper dredgers and there are three more, currently under construction. The Voltaire will be the very first seagoing installation vessel of its kind to be such an Ultra-Low Emission vessel (ULEv) and, moreover, EURO STAGE V certified!

Offshore wind experience worldwide

The Jan De Nul Group can rely on its extensive European experience in executing offshore wind farm projects in Belgium, England, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Germany. ‘Since 2019, we expand our European track record by constructing the Northwester 2 offshore wind farm in Belgian waters,’ continues Philippe Hutse. ‘We are responsible for the installation of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines currently available on the market: 9.5 MW with a rotor diameter of 164 metres. This is an important milestone. Not only for us and our Clients, but also for the entire offshore wind industry.’

The Jan De Nul Group operates worldwide. ‘In 2018, we secured our very first offshore wind projects outside Europe: the design and installation of the offshore wind parks

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Changhua and Formosa 1 Phase 2, the very first offshore wind farms in Taiwan. Both projects are currently ongoing. And mid-2019, we scored a hat trick in Taiwan by winning the Formosa 2 project, neighbouring the Formosa 1 Phase 2 wind farm.’

Third offshore jack-up installation vessel

‘We now own three offshore jack-up installation vessels: Voltaire, Vole au vent and Taillevent. And they are all three especially built to install offshore wind farms,’ adds Hutse. ‘Their large cargo deck space and payload, and the lifting capacity of their on-board cranes enable swift and safe installation of the heaviest foundations and other components of offshore wind parks.’

With an unrivalled crane capacity of over 3,000 tonnes, the Voltaire, under construction and set to be delivered in 2022, is specifically designed to transport, lift and install offshore wind turbines, transition pieces and foundations. Key features include the main crane of over 3,000 tonnes, an operating depth of approximately 80 meters, a payload of about 14,000 tonnes and accommodation for 100 persons. The vessel has four legs to lift itself above the sea level for stable working conditions and is equipped with a DP2 system.

‘Compared to our two other jack-up vessels, the Vole au vent and the Taillevent, this new vessel has almost double the deck space. Not only is this vessel capable of loading the next generation of wind turbines and foundations, the larger deck space will also enable us to optimize installations at sea and to lower the fuel consumption and emissions,’ concludes Philippe Hutse.

The Vole au vent and the Taillevent are both 140 metres long. The Vole au vent is equipped with a 1,500 tonnes crane and four spuds to lift itself above the sea level for stable working conditions. She can install all kinds of foundations, as well as the latest generation of wind turbines, in water depths up to 50 metre. The Taillevent has a 1,000 tonnes crane, six spuds and a maximum working depth up to 40 metres.

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From top to toe, having the legs jacked and the main crane erected, the Voltaire is as tall as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Credit: The Jan De Nul Group

‘When complete, Dogger Bank will generate enough energy to power over 4.5 million homes every year, around 5% of the UK’s electricity needs.’

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The Group also disposes of versatile and most efficient multipurpose vessels and in-house designed trenching tools to overcome unnavigable tidal areas. Thanks to their versatility, these vessels can be deployed on a variety of projects: installing subsea cables, trench dredging and subsea rock installation, which definitely makes those vessels unique. This allows the Jan De Nul Group to better meet the clients’ requests of having a project executed by one vessel contractor and to reduce the mobilisation costs for its clients.

Dogger Bank Wind farms

Jan De Nul’s Voltaire has already been

awarded its first contract, by the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank Wind Farms. Future offshore WTGs will be twice as big as the current WTGs, available on the market and the Voltaire will transport and install the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, GE’s Haliade-X, at Dogger Bank, which sits 130km off the Yorkshire coast.

When complete, Dogger Bank will generate enough energy to power over 4.5 million homes every year, around 5% of the UK’s electricity needs.

‘We are delighted to be selected as the transport and installation contractor for the next generation of turbines at Dogger Bank. The size of this giant project coincides perfectly with the capacities of our jack-up vessel Voltaire. It underlines that we are entering into a new phase of OWF construction. We are proud to be at the forefront of offshore wind construction at Dogger Bank,’ commented Philippe Hutse.

Record low prices were awarded for the three projects making up Dogger Bank Wind Farms: Creyke Beck A, Creyke Beck B and Teesside A. The project is now moving towards final investment decision, expected in 2020. SSE Renewables will lead the development and construction phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farms and Equinor will lead on operations.

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About the Jan De Nul Group

Design. Build. Connect.

The Jan De Nul Group shapes water and land worldwide. From complex offshore energy services, to large dredging and both land and coastal reclamation projects, to challenging civil construction programmes.

Well integrated competences and investments lead to creative, sustainable and innovative solutions. In this way The Jan De Nul Group delivers results that produces satisfied customers.

Building a better future.

About Dogger Bank Wind Farms:

• A 50:50 joint venture between Equinor and SSE Renewables

• Consent was granted in 2015.

• Located in the North Sea, approximately 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.

• Water depth ranges from 20m to 35m.

• Each project will have an installed capacity of 1.2GW and will be able to power 1.5 million homes. Together, the projects can cover approximately 5% of the UK’s estimated electricity generation.

• The first project is expected to be operational in 2023.

• The WTGs will be installed on monopile foundations.

• The transmission system will be High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) due to long distance to grid connection point.

• The Contract for Difference is a 15-year contract which will be indexed for inflation. The strike price will be paid for every MWh generated by the wind farms during the contract. After the CfD contract ends, the projects will receive the market price for electricity.

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