MHI Vestas signed a firm order with Two Towers Consortium for the 19-megawatt (MW) Borssele V Offshore Wind Farm in the Netherlands, the company announced Thursday.
The Danish-Japanese joint venture, equally owned by Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, will supply two V164-9.5 MW turbines for the project, which has been designated as an innovation site that will test various innovations in and around the turbines.
According to MHI Vestas' statement, Borssele V will be located 20 km off the coast of Zeeland and within site III of the Borssele Wind Farm zone and will provide clean energy for 25,000 households.
'We are extremely proud that the Netherlands will be home to our next test project,' said MHI Vestas' Chief Technology Officer Torben Hvid Larsen.
'Borssele V confirms once again that MHI Vestas is committed to continuous learning and collaborating with industry partners on innovations that will advance our collective knowledge and propel our industry forward,' he added.
The two-turbine project, slated for installation in 2020, will implement several innovations to improve environmental standards and contribute to the renewable energy transition in the Netherlands, according to the statement.
The innovations include a 'slip joint' technology that will be applied to connect the monopile and transition piece.
'This technology, developed in collaboration with Van Oord, has two major advantages: it is maintenance-free, and it reduces installation time, which could result in significant cost savings,' MHI Vestas said.
Based in Rotterdam, Van Oord is an international contractor specializing in dredging, marine engineering and offshore projects including oil, gas and wind.
Also, revolutionary eco-designs for scour protection will be tested to determine the effect on the maritime environment. Part of the innovation is the use of scour protection in creating reef systems, including oyster reefs, which will help promote a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem, according to the statement.
The project will be the 5th offshore wind park in the Netherlands for MHI Vestas. The company will have an installed base of 218 turbines and 1.1 gigawatts in Dutch waters on the completion of the project.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr