Beatris+Project

The Beatrice Wind Farm
Located adjacent to the Beatrice oilfield some 25km from shore, this ambitious pilot project installed two prototype five megawatt turbines in water depths of up to 45 metres (in 2006).

[[image:Beatris_Map.jpg width="279" height="310"]]
**Aim of the project:** • Develop the technology: design, construct, install and operate the very first deepwater windfarm • Test the performance: determine if large scale developments of this type are viable and sustainable • Explore the issues: review all the economic, social and environmental impacts to ensure maximum regional benefit.

The below Animation Explains the Installation process: media type="file" key="Demonstrator_Ani.wmv" // In the Video : // //The below Animation Explains the Installation process: Notes:
 * 1.** The construction yard (for the substructure) is located on the Coast of Scotland, 22 KMs Northeast of which is the location of the site.
 * 2.** The fabrication will be indoors to enable the work to continue through the extreme winters of Scotland.
 * 3.** The installation of the transition piece is a critical part during the fabrication. A deviation of even two degrees can change the orientation of the turbine blades and have drastic efforts on the produced electricity. This piece is hence, installed indoors in controlled conditions.
 * 4.** The jacket along with the transition piece is then rolled on to the Quay Wall (since the yard is close to the offshore location) and on to the transportation barge using trailers. The jacket shall be sea-fastened and taken to the location using Tug-Boats.
 * 5.**The installation location is 22kms from the shore, the voyage will take 15-20 hours. A shear leg Crane shall be used to aid in installation (June 2006).The location of the turbine is close to a large Oil Beatrice platform (2kms).The two turbine are spaced at 700m and connected using subsea cables.
 * 6.** During the installation the jacket is upended using the shear crane and then piled. Each turbine has 4 skirt piles which is 72’’ in diameter and 40m long. The piling operation is a critical activity since the vibrations from the piling can disrupt the marine life in the surrounding (the site is close a marine conserve).
 * 8.** An interface frame is then installed on to the jacket using a crawler crane on the shear crane barge to aid in mating the turbine tower above..
 * 9.** Next, the same shear crane is employed to transport the preassembled turbine tower on shore to the offshore location. This lift is a critical lift and needs a clear 48 hours weather window. This weather window must last until the tower frame is mated on top of the jacket.
 * 10.** The interface frame also minimises the vibrations transferred to the tower during the installation. To minimise the relative motion between the floating barge and the fixed platform, hydraulic rams are installed on the jacket interface frame.
 * 11.** Once the installation is complete (the tower is bolted on to the jacket), the interface frame is removed. Since this is a demonstration project, the installation and testing of all other systems (electrical, mechanical and instrumentation) shall last for several weeks to lead to the final electricity generation.//

//The project comprises of two wind turbine generating units of 5MW capacity, linked by subsea cables. The project period shall last for five years and the aim is to examine the feasibility and benefits of creating a commercial deepwater wind farm at this site. The project will also be subject to an environmental asessment prepared under the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipelines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999. In terms of construction this means that the contractor must be aware of the environmental norms that he must conform to and factor it in the construction estimate.//

// The demonstration is part of the EU-sponsored DOWNVind project. However, the Demonstrator’s prototype turbines could remain operational after the end of the project, even up to final decommissioning of the offshore platforms (the turbines are controlled from the offshore platforms).

DOWNVind (Distant Offshore Windfarms with No Visual Impact in Deepwater): Europe’s largest renewable energy research and technology development programme. // // The turbines will be maintained and operated from Beatrice Alpha (the offshore platform). They will be connected to the platform power systems and initially the output from the turbines will displace power already used in the Beatrice field (the turbines can replace up to 70% of the Beatrice field consumption. // // The Beatrice oilfield is approaching the end of its lifespan. The Demonstrator Project has the potential to test technology, utilise the power generated to run the Beatrice platforms while at the same time displacing the power to the national grid. It could ultimately lead to a reuse opportunity for the Beatrice infrastructure. The Moray Firth offers weather conditions that are close to ideal for an offshore wind farm. This is a great example of the concept of using a number of offshore platforms that are approaching an end to their life due to the exhaustion of the oil & gas. The whole project will cost in the region of £1 billion to develop a fully operational offshore wind farm. // This project exemplifies the fact that offshore renewables are really being taken seriously especially considering the amount of money being poured on projects like these.