After almost three years in growth, France’s first offshore wind farm moved right into a remaining stage of building with the set up yesterday of the primary of the wind generators. Positioned close to Saint-Nazaire, the undertaking is slated to have a capability of 480 MW, which can equal 20 p.c of Loire Atlantique’s electrical consumption.
Being developed by EDF Renewables and a three way partnership between Enbridge and the Canada Pension Plan Funding Board, the offshore wind farm is seen as an vital aspect in France’s efforts to develop renewable vitality sources. It’s situated greater than seven miles off the coast of the Guérande peninsula. The monopile foundations have been anchored within the seabed at a depth ranging between roughly 40 and 80 toes. When accomplished, the wind farm will include 80 wind generators, every with a capability of 6 MW, constructed by GE Renewable Vitality.
What a sight! Our very first #Haliade is now standing tall off the coast of #SaintNazaire in #France. Extra updates to return as we proceed the set up.#FutureofEnergy pic.twitter.com/0RutJpe7hT
— GE Renewable Vitality (@GErenewables) April 13, 2022
Set up of the wind generators is being carried out by Jan De Nul’s Offshore Jack-Up Set up Vessel Vole au vent. Inbuilt 2013, the jack-up vessel has a elevate capability of as much as 1,500 tons. After 5 weeks of upkeep and undertaking preparations within the port of Ostend, Belgium, the Vole au vent left for Saint-Nazaire, the place she arrived on March 31. From the marshaling harbor, the Vole au vent will load the wind generators and transport them offshore, for set up on the location within the northern a part of the Bay of Biscay.
In units of 4, the generators will likely be loaded on board the Vole au vent and transported offshore, the place the vessel will mount them on high of monopile foundations. Based on Jan De Nul, the set up of 1 turbine takes roughly 24 hours, relying on the climate circumstances, so every set up journey will take about 5 days. The final turbine is scheduled to be mounted in Autumn 2022.
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Different key components for the location have already been accomplished and put in. {The electrical} substation, constructed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique et GE Grid, was accomplished in July 2021 and positioned on its jacket basis the next month. Cabling work was additionally underneath means whereas a upkeep base in La Turballe was underneath growth. The wind farm is scheduled to be operational earlier than the top of the 12 months and is projected to have a 25-year lifespan.
