Talisman Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy undertook the Beatrice Wind Farm Project with financial support from the European Union, Scottish Executive and Department for Trade and Industry (DBERR), to demonstrate the economic and technical viability of deep water offshore wind farms, distant from shore.

The project is located off the Northeast coast of Scotland in water depths up to 45 metres. The Beatrice Demonstrator Project was undertaken as a “demonstrator” project in partnership with the European Union “DOWNVInD” research programme, the Scottish Executive and DBERR.

The Beatrice Demonstrator Project comprised a series of “first ever” feats never before attempted offshore, including:

• The first ever use of the world’s largest wind turbines (5MW) offshore,

• The first ever use of a “jacket” sub-sea structure for an offshore wind turbine,

• The first ever deployment of a wind turbine distant from shore in deepwater (45 metres),

• The first ever assembly of a turbine, tower, hub, and blades onshore for installation in one piece offshore

• The first ever offshore installation from a floating vessel, and

• The development of a safe, ladder-less access system

These revolutionary approaches were incorporated from offshore oil and gas industry practice and represent the way in which the SeaEnergy team have leveraged their extensive offshore operating experience in mitigating the risks associated with large scale offshore developments.

The Beatrice Demonstrator Project was undertaken in conjunction with the European Union DOWNVInD (Distant Offshore Windfarms with No Visual Impact iN Deepwater) Programme. This highly successful effort to transfer technologies, methods and practices from the offshore oil and gas industry and apply them to deepwater wind farm development resulted in many breakthrough innovations in the construction and installation of “deepwater” wind turbines.

For further information on the Beatrice Demonstrator Wind Farm Project and DOWNVInD, please go to:

www.beatricewind.co.uk
www.downvind.com