The first turbine at the 731.5 MW Borssele III/IV offshore wind project has now been installed by MHI Vestas at site 55 km off the coast of the Netherlands. The first of the 77 V164-9.5 MW wind turbines was installed by the project team after setting sail from the Port of Vlissingen on the Aeolus offshore installation vessel.
When the project is completed, the Borssele III/IV project will supply clean renewable energy to 825,000 households, accounting for up to 2.3% of total Dutch electricity demand. Completion is expected within this year.
"First turbine installation at Borssele III/IV is a key milestone for the MHI Vestas team, who are working hard to deliver offshore wind projects across Europe in the midst of the Covid-19 challenge," said Flemming Ougaard, Chief Operations Officer of MHI Vestas. "Our teams have been working exceptionally diligently to prepare all components of the 77 wind turbines for Borssele III/IV, and we are pleased to have installation of the V164-9.5 WTGs underway."
"After completion of the foundations in April, the start of the turbine installation phase marks the next crucial and exciting step in the project," said Roeland Borsboom, Project Director of Blauwwind. "Blauwwind and MHI Vestas have been collaborating well on design and fabrication, and we are now focusing on safe offshore works. Commissioning of the first string of turbines is expected in the course of the third quarter of 2020. That is when we expect to start production of power for our customers."
Total expected energy production from the Borssele III/IV wind project is 3,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.
The Borssele III/IV project is being developed by the Blauwwind consortium, consisting of Partners Group, Shell, Eneco, Diamand Generating Europe and Van Oord.
About MHI Vestas Offshore Wind
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is a joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems A/S (50%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (50%). The company's focus is to design, manufacture, install and service wind turbines for the offshore wind industry. The company aims to create sustainable value through offshore wind power by driving capital and operating savings and increasing the power output of wind turbines. An innovative force in offshore wind since its inception in 2014, the company is guided by its founding principles of collaboration, trust, technology and commitment. For more information, see www.mhivestasoffshore.com or follow @MHIVestas on Twitter.
About the Blauwwind Consortium
On 12 December 2016 the Blauwwind Consortium was awarded by the Dutch government the right to develop, construct and operate the Borssele III and IV offshore wind farms under a 30-year lease and assumed 25-year operational life after construction. The wind farms will be located 22 kilometres off the coast of the province of Zeeland in The Netherlands. TSO TenneT will build the grid connections and construct the offshore substation in the wind farm zone. The wind farms will use V164 9.5MW turbines made by MHI Vestas.
Contact:
John Wawer
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind
T: +44 8455 282446
jowaw@mhivestasoffshore.com
