(HELSINKI) — ABB’s advanced power systems have been chosen for the first self-elevating wind turbine installation vessel built in Japan, which will support nation’s fast-expanding offshore wind sector.
The 28,000-gt jack-up ship – a purpose-built, self-elevating wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) delivered from a Japanese yard – will feature ABB's advanced power and control technologies. The vessel, on order from builder Japan Marine United Corp., is due delivery to Shimizu Corp. in 2022.
Shimizu Corp.’s 465-foot newbuild will feature the greatest lifting and carrying capacity ever available on a wind turbine installation vessel. Using a 2,500-ton crane capable of a maximum lift height of 518 feet, the ship will be able to transport and install seven 8-MW wind turbines in a single voyage and operate in waters ranging between 30 and 215 feet deep.
ABB will deliver a closed ring configuration for the vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) operations, enabling safe and predictable performance with high tolerance in the event of the power plant fault. Whether applied to newbuilds or retrofits, these solutions offer increased resilience to network disturbances, as well as timely and precise protection against power loss.
ABB’s scope of supply also covers the delivery and system integration of generators, high voltage switchboard system, the variable speed drives and motors for main propulsion and bow thrusters, and the power and energy management system (PEMS).
In line with ABB’s “Electric. Digital. Connected.” vision, this vessel will have the capability to leverage the ABB Ability Remote Diagnostic Services for Marine. The network uses remote equipment monitoring and data analytics to enable predictive maintenance, planned interventions or even remote technical assistance, supported from seven existing shore-based ABB Marine & Ports’ Collaborative Operations Centers staffed by ABB experts.
Public attitudes and policy in Japan are favorable to renewable energy, where government recently passed a law to allow construction of offshore wind farms beyond port-related zones1. The go-ahead coincides with Global Wind Energy Council expectations that Asian offshore wind capacity will reach 165 GW by 2030. China will account for much of the growth, but analyst Wood Mackenzie recently forecast Japan’s offshore wind capacity would expand to 4 GW by 2028 – a 62-fold increase from 2018.
Delivering on these expectations is challenged by the sharp increase in water depths close to the Japanese coastline, which limits areas suitable for installing wind turbines. Maximizing the energy output requires large wind turbines, the installation of which, in turn, calls for large WTIVs. With most such vessels tied up with duties in European waters, Japan has an urgent need for high performance WTIVs, purpose-built to do the job.
For more information, visit www.abb.com.
