A 288MW offshore wind farm being developed by E.ON in the German Bight region of the North Searemains on schedule, with full commissioning planned for 2015. Preparatory work in advance of monopile installation will begin this quarter (April-June), while "the team also aims to get the first foundations installed before year end," E.ON has confirmed to Windpower Offshore.
A recent report by Bloomberg suggested the project had suffered a 15-month delay. In fact, there is no new delay facing Amrumbank West, and the 15-month slowdown referred to is an ‘old’ one, long overcome.
Sif is supplying monopiles for Amrumbank West, while Siem Offshore Contractors (SOC) is charged with installation of inter-array cables, manufactured by NKT. The project will be powered by 80 Siemens 3.6MW turbines, the order for which was announced in late 2011.
Meanwhile, construction of the HelWin 2 export cable and offshore converter station, which will connect Amrumbank West to the onshore electricity network, also appears to be making good progress. Construction of the station’s topside by Heerema, began last autumn, while CG will produce the station’s electrical system.
E.ON is also gearing up to build the 219MW Humber Gateway project, which will come online during the same year – 2015 – as Amrumbank West, provided neither project suffers significant delay. It also owns 30% of London Array phase 1, which is now fully energised. The company is working toward cost reduction for its offshore wind development programme, with a target of €95/MW.
.png){kind=spacer}
.jpg)
