The 111 wind turbines in the Anholt Offshore Wind Farm are covered by a five-year guarantee period. During the guarantee period, DONG Energy’s technicians will be working two by two with Siemens technicians, but once the guarantee period expires, DONG Energy’s operations organisation will take over the full responsibility for service and maintenance of the offshore wind farm and adjust the organisation to this task.
At that time, the organisation is expected to include approx 50 wind turbine technicians. Including vessel crews, storage and administrative functions, the total operation and maintenance organisation is expected to include a total of approx 70 people based in Grenaa.
Concurrently with transferring the wind turbines to normal operation, they will be part subject to the normal service procedure. The first three wind turbines have already had a 500-hour service, which is the wind turbine’s first service, including among other things a thorough re-tightening of all bolts in the wind turbine.
In addition, all wind turbines must have an annual main overhaul to be performed in the summer months.
To ensure an appropriate adjustment of the service work, the service technicians work seven days and have seven days off. The work days are long; the work is performed from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening.
Three identical service vessels have been purchased from Hvide Sande Skibs- & Baadebyggeri to transport the many service technicians to and from the wind farm. The first two service vessels are already working at the wind farm; the last service vessel will be supplied in summer 2013.
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Press release, January 15, 2013; Image: DONG Energy