SAL Renewables, Off-shore Wind Solutions (OWS) and Wind Multiplikator (WM) have entered into a partnership to deliver major component exchange (MCE) services to the offshore wind energy industry in Northern Europe.
All three companies have gained experience in the field over the past five years. WM started providing project management services to OWS in 2016 at the Bard Offshore 1 (BO1) wind farm. In 2017, Ocean Breeze Energy appointed Harren & Partner – parent company of SAL Renewables – to improve the performance of the installation vessel Wind Lift I. Harren & Partner became the owner of that vessel at the end of 2020.
With the new ownership and the collaboration with OWS and WM, Wind Lift I is prepared to take on additional opportunities to benefit all parties in addition to its long-term charter with OBE, Harren & Partner said. Michael Munder-Oschimek, managing director of OWS, said: “This partnership will allow us to use our experience in MCE while bringing complete solutions to the market.”
Munder-Oschimek added that the company’s set up in Emden, Germany, with direct quay access, a 450-tonne capacity gantry crane, large storage areas, main component overhauling facilities, and a 24/7 control room, is perfect for component replacement and exchange services.
Matthieu Moerman, head of projects at SAL Renewables, said: “The wind industry in Northern Europe is picking up again. New wind farms are being installed and existing turbines need to be maintained with an increased output of the turbines.”