The wind services division of Siemens Energy has secured an innovative ten-year operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for the 288MW Butendiek project. The contract forms part of a €700m bundle that also includes turbine supply.
The O&M deal is an important one for Siemens, as it seeks to complement its existing position as Europe's dominant offshore wind turbine supplier with a similarly important role in offshore wind services.
Siemens' strategy for Butendiek will be to "ensure maximum long-term exploitation of the wind farm’s power potential". The company aims to achieve this by taking an "anticipatory, forward-looking" approach to service planning.
Technicians will live aboard a "specially designed" vessel capable of coping with far offshore conditions. The vessel will boast an access system allowing technicians to cross directly from the ship to the turbine.
In addition to supplying 80 of its SWT 3.6 120 turbines and providing its new SWPS-4300 O&M package, Siemens is also a shareholder in Butendiek, with a 22.5% stake held by Siemens Financial Services.
"Wind energy can make a major contribution to ensuring electrical power supply. To do so, however, wind turbines must be reliable and work at maximum output," said Randy Zwirn, chief executive of Siemens Energy’s service division, commenting on the Butendiek contract.
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