Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise commissioned BVG Associates to produce a number of factsheets on different aspects of fixed and floating offshore wind projects.
We’ve designed the factsheets to provide background information, detail opportunities and help those looking to enter the offshore wind supply chain market, particularly manufacturing and fabrication companies.
The factsheets can help companies assess where their own skills and experience can be applied to offshore wind components and include detailed descriptions of the individual areas of opportunity.
We've included weights, lengths and quantities of many of the most common sub components in both fixed and floating offshore wind.
With no current serial production manufacturing facilities for many of the components, and with Scotland as a world leader in the deployment of offshore wind, there is a major market opportunity in the Scottish supply chain.
Information factsheets for the manufacturers of offshore wind components.
Secondary steel refers to elements that fit on the main (primary) structural elements. These elements enable functions such as access to the turbine and protection for ancillary components. Secondary steel includes a wide range of subcomponents, from small scale items such as brackets and doors to large structures such as I and J Tubes, boat landings and work platforms weighing up to 50 tonnes.
Anchor and mooring systems are used to secure floating offshore wind turbines to the seafloor, ensuring that they remain in the desired location. Mooring systems connect the anchor to the turbine and consist of sections of chain and synthetic rope.
Cable Protection Systems (CPS) help protect cables against impact, abrasion, fatigue, and damaging movement such as over-bending at vulnerable locations. This is particularly important for floating wind turbines which use dynamic cables to enable movement. CPS are needed to reduce costs involved with maintaining, repairing or replacing cables.
Offshore wind farms are generally composed of two types of cables. Array cables connect the turbines in a farm and deliver the power generated to an offshore substation. Export cables connect the offshore substation to the onshore substation.
Corrosion protection systems protect equipment above and below the water line from corrosion. One or more forms of corrosion protection can be used to protect the substructure to the extent that is required, such as a paint barrier with cathodic protection.
