Formerly known as Q10, construction of the now-renamed 129MW wind farm is scheduled to begin in July 2013, with generation from the following summer.
The project’s developer, Dutch energy firm Eneco, has re-confirmed that Van Oord will be responsible for installation of the wind farm’s foundations and electrical infrastructure, including its offshore transformer station. The international contracting firm will also supply the vessel that will be used to install the wind farm’s 43 Vestas V112 3MW turbines. The value of the contract to Van Oord has been estimated at €250m.
Meanwhile, Eneco subsidiary Joulz will install the cable to run between Luchterduinen wind farm – 23km off the coast – and an electricity substation, which will be located 8km inland.
Final contracts will be signed in the autumn, giving Van Oord time to investigate new foundation options that avoid the need for grout between the foundation pile and the transition piece holding the turbine tower. Van Oord will also explore methods of improving scour protection. Investigation of both issues is a requirement of the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, agriculture and innovation.
Plans to put seven innovative 6MW turbines to the test, backed by EU NER300 funding, have been shelved, with Eneco citing long delays in decision making about financial support for the testing plan.
Two ports - Ijmuiden and Vlissingen - will support the majority of the wind farm’s construction.
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