A team of Ørsted offshore wind turbine technicians from the UK are working from the Isle of Man as they upgrade turbines on one of its Irish Sea projects.
It is hoped that the campaign will also lay the groundwork for future operations and maintenance carried out from the island.
The team, who usually operate from Barrow-in-Furness, are working to improve the efficiency of 40 turbines at the Walney Extension wind farm which is in UK territorial waters.
Operating from Douglas harbour cuts the travel time in half to get to the wind farm, so it reduces fuel usage and carbon emissions while also allowing the team more working time on site.
Emma Ford, Ørsted’s Head of Generation UK West, said: “The work we’re doing ranges from simple tasks that take a few minutes, up to heavy lifting jobs such as replacing hydraulic rams.
“We’ve received a very warm welcome on the Island and everyone we’ve met has been extremely helpful.”
Economy
As well as using the island’s largest harbour, Ørsted has also been contributing to our local economy.
Ms Ford added: “The Douglas harbour team helped us to set up a small office on the quayside very quickly.
“We’ve used on-Island suppliers for office equipment and stationery, and to buy additional tools we needed.
“Outside work, the team has enjoyed the accommodation and hospitality that the island offers, so we can see why it’s such a great place to live and work.
“We will be exploring options for using the island for future operations and maintenance campaigns and some of the team are already planning to come back for a holiday!”
Offshore
The company is planning to build the island’s first offshore wind farm, which will see it pay rent and a percentage of revenue throughout the operation of the wind farm, plus taxation and royalties once it is established.
A planing application is due next year.
community consultation and engagement process began on July 15 and runs until September 11. Two community consultation events were held in Laxey and Ramsey last week – three more will follow in August, as follows:
- Tuesday August 6: Santander Work Café, Old Market Hall, North Quay, Douglas – noon to 6pm
- Wednesday August 7: Corrin Hall, Peel – 2pm to 7pm
- Thursday August 8: Bradda Glen Café, Bradda East, Port Erin – 2pm to 7pm
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