Construction firm Hochtief installed the inaugural turbine at Global Tech 1 using the Thor jack-up vessel, and in the autumn a further installation ship will be deployed. Turbines will be installed while tripod foundations continue to be placed in work that is scheduled to finish within six months.
Areva also highlighted that the installation of 40 Areva 5MW turbines has begun at the Borkum West 2 Phase 1. The first turbine was installed in July. The project had been delayed, due to transmission system operator TenneT’s failure to complete construction of the DolWin1 export cable on time.
Speaking about the installations, Louis-Francois Durret, senior executive vice-president of Areva Renewable Energies Business Group, said he believed the use of Areva turbines on the two projects would help the company win future projects in the UK and France.
Areva is developing a new version of the M5000 with a 135 rotor. The turbine will have a hub height of 130 metres. Plans for the new machine were originally announced by Areva in 2011.
According to chief technology officer René Balle, the turbine offers 8% extra annual yield at 9m/s average wind speed for sites similar to those along the French coast. Areva was part of the consortium that won the St-Brieuc 500MW tender in France.
.png)
.png)
