Primary SDG Focus
Secondary SDG Focus
Please summarize your company’s SDG focus, how that SDG was implemented and how you achieved and measured the impact.
[/vc_column_text]
SNC-Lavalin worked with Swedish company Hexicon as engineering partner to design the world’s first multi-turbine offshore wind floating platform.
The patented technology enables the platform to align with the wind direction, giving its turbines free wind and maximizing energy yield. This enables efficient harvesting further offshore in deeper waters in areas with the best wind resources to provide affordable clean energy for global deployment.
Atkins was pushing the boundaries of design to support Hexicon in maximising energy yield. Experience in innovative, transformational work both in the renewables and oil and gas sectors had enabled the project team to go one step further in making the exciting concept a reality.
New developments in the design of the floating structure’s mooring system increased the efficiency of the rotating system reducing CAPEX and maximising energy yield.
Atkins’ extensive experience in floating wind has played a key role in developing the concept and originally winning the work. The integrated design capability that enables the head to toe design that we were undertaking for Hexicon demonstrates how our experience across a range of both floating and fixed offshore wind projects can add real value to clients.
Atkins has been involved in more than half a dozen floating wind projects around the world including:
- Detailed design and analysis for Principle Power’s WindFloat prototype in Portugal.
- Design for Pilot Offshore Renewable’s Kincardine floating wind project
- Winning Statoil’s Hywind floating wind demonstrator Installation Challenge competition.
How was your primary SDG focus identified and prioritized in the company’s value chain?
To enable affordable and clean energy to be provided offshore adjascent to areas of population and high demand for energy, this technology was developed. Providing affordable clean energy as well as optimizing the use of resources by developing pre-fabrication techniques are core elements of the value chain for the proposed design.
Hexicon is a privately-owned Stockholm based Design and Engineering house developing projects and technology for floating multi-turbine platforms and was founded in 2009.
By combining double capacity on its platforms, Hexicon’s designs have competitive advantages in park formations resulting in lower costs per installed MW. Hexicon parks require less inter-array cables which saves both CAPEX and installation effort. By sharing the foundation, O&M can be rationalized by access to multiple turbines from a single crew transfer.
Platform assembly is done safely in a drydock providing increased safety during fabrication. The mooring system and export (inter-array) cable is installed prior to platform arriving on site for swift hook-up and electrical connection. One tow operation delivers two turbines which makes the overall installation 50% faster than for single turbine concepts.
Besides economic advantages, Hexicon’s multi-turbine concept reduces environmental impact thanks to the reduced need for inter-array cables which are plowed into the seabed. Geophysical and geotechnical investigation requirements are also reduced. Two turbines on each platform can result in a windfarm with 75% higher electricity production for a given area at sea. And the amount of inter-array cable is reduced by 45% per installed MW.
How was your primary SDG integrated and anchored throughout your business?
The product allows affordable clean energy to be provided globally and allows turbines to be deployed further from shore. Market forecasts suggest a fleet as large as 12GW could be online around the world by 2030.
Global investments in clean and renewable energy are sharply on the rise. By 2030, 500 floating offshore wind turbines are expected to be installed, from just a handful today.
Did you employ any innovative approaches in your efforts to implement the goal?
[/vc_column_text]
The entire concept for the design is innovative. Hexicon has designed several turning solutions as well as specific mooring solutions and aims to constantly expand its IP-portfolio. In 2014 Hexicon was awarded a grant for further R&D projects by the Sweden’s innovation agency, VINNOVA.
In 2015 and 2016, basin test at MARIN, Netherlands were successfully completed. In 2016, Hexicon contracted FORCE Technology to measure drag coefficients of the above-water and below-water sections of the hull and turbines to calibrate in the advanced computer model that is used in the engineering of the system.
Hexicon’s main project is called Dounreay Trì, its first commercial demonstrator project North of Scotland. The Dounreay Trì project is a commercial demonstration project, to be installed off the North coast of Scotland within a site approximately 9 km off Dounreay, Caithness. Hexicon has developed a semi-submersible foundation for offshore wind power that is designed to be turbine agnostic, which means it can support any commercial turbine. The Dounreay design hosts two 5 MW wind turbine generators.
The innovative platform turns into free wind around the third column of the triangular platform using a turret bearing and an electrical swivel. The turret is a solution being widely used in the oil and gas industry, where it has been proven for decades on e.g. FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessels.
Were any partnerships leveraged or created?
SNC-Lavalin established a partnership to support Hexicon in maximising energy yield. Experience in innovative, transformational work both in the renewables and oil and gas sectors had enabled the project team to go one step further in making the exciting concept a reality. To successfully execute the Project, Dounreay has appointed several well-respected parties within the renewables industry, such as Atkins, RES Offshore, ABS and Hexicon.
What communications strategy did you employ to share the initiative with your stakeholders?
All communications are managed via the main Hexicon website and the Dounreay Trì,, a number of short films and animations are included on the main websites.
https://www.hexicon.eu/dounreay-tri/
How were KPIs and the levels of success outlined and defined?
This project is a demonstration project to demonstrate the technical viability of an innovative technology.
The Dounreay Trì project is a commercial demonstration project, to be installed off the North coast of Scotland within a site approximately 9 km off Dounreay, Caithness. Hexicon has developed a semi-submersible foundation for offshore wind power that is designed to be turbine agnostic, which means it can support any commercial turbine. The Dounreay design hosts two 5 MW wind turbine generators.
The platform turns into free wind around the third column of the triangular platform using a turret bearing and an electrical swivel. The turret is a solution being widely used in the oil and gas industry, where it has been proven for decades on e.g. FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessels.
A single dynamic export cable brings the power ashore. Subject to a Connection Offer from Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution, the associated onshore electrical infrastructure to connect the newly constructed substation at, or near, the existing Dounreay 33 kV substation. The substation will include switchgear, protection, and some local control.
The project has been successful from a technical perspective and Hexicon are planning deployment in Asia specifically in Korea following testing in Scotland.
How were reporting and monitoring conceptualized and undertaken?
[/vc_column_text]
All reporting and monitoring are conceptualized and undertaken via the main Hexicon website and the Dounreay Trì,, a number of short films and animations are included on the main websites.
https://www.hexicon.eu/dounreay-tri/
What were some key lessons learned?
The construction started in March 2017. The project is currently on hold, but there is strong commitment of the project’s key suppliers to re-start the project and commissioning is planned latest Q1 2020.
The offshore wind technology is technical viable and is currently being developed in locations across Asia.
What were the key impacts and results?
All key impacts and results are outlined via the main Hexicon website and the Dounreay Trì, a number of short films and animations are included on the main websites.