Gallery: Monopile refurbishment at Scroby Sands

UK: Rope access specialist Abfad is carrying out refurbishment on all 30 turbines at E.on's 60MW Scroby Sands project, off England's east coast.

by David Weston 3 July 2015

  • Rope access specialists Abfad refurbished monopile foundations at the 60MW Scroby Sands project

    Rope access specialists Abfad refurbished monopile foundations at the 60MW Scroby Sands project

  • E.on's Scroby Sands has been in operation since 2004, using 30 2MW turbines

    E.on's Scroby Sands has been in operation since 2004, using 30 2MW turbines

  • Abfad was awarded a three year contract to refurbish the monopiles from the grating elevation to sea level

    Abfad was awarded a three year contract to refurbish the monopiles from the grating elevation to sea level

  • The worker is held on using Abfad's magnetic positioning system

    The worker is held on using Abfad's magnetic positioning system

  • Scroby Sands is 1.5 kilometres off the UK's east coast

    Scroby Sands is 1.5 kilometres off the UK's east coast

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Scroby Sands was installed by E.on in 2004 using 30 Vestas V80-2MW turbines. Abfad was handed a three-year contract in 2012 to provide monopile refurbishment.

According to Abfad, the work is being carried out in two phases. Phase 1 saw structural steelwork below the walkway gratings being refurbished, down to the monopile collar. Phase 2 sees to refurbish all steelwork below the collar section to sea level. 

Abfad said: "Offshore wind turbines are subject to severe problems with corrosion due to the extreme environment they operate in and the longer corrosion is left untreated the greater the problem becomes."

The firm used is magnetic postitioning system, allowing technicians to be held close and securely to the monopile on the area they are working. Abfad said the system allows work to be carried out with precision, and avoid having to "tie-in" to structures.

Pictures provided by Abfad.