Bold Tern to install Block Island wind turbines

Written by Nick Blenkey
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Bold Tern

FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — Deepwater Wind is to use Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s Maltese-flag jack-up wind farm installation vessel Bold Tern to install five 6 MW wind turbines at the Block Island Wind Farm offshore Rhode Island.

The installation will be carried out third quarter 2016 and the duration of the employment is a firm period of 65 days, plus extensions for up to 48 days.

The installation contract follows closely on an announcement that Deepwater Wind and Alstom had signed major agreements to supply the Block Island Wind Farm with five of Alstom’s 6 MW Haliade 150 offshore wind turbines.

Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowsk called the agreement with Alstom a pivotal point in the development of the 30MW Block Island Wind Farm.

“We are pleased to be able to provide Deepwater Wind an efficient and powerful turbine that is an ideal match for their exciting project,” said Andy Geissbuehler, General Manager, Alstom Wind North America. “We look forward to continuing to participate in the development of the offshore wind industry in the U.S. by working with visionary companies like Deepwater Wind.”

Alstom will supply the five 6MW turbines, including tower sections, for the 30-megawatt Block Island Wind Farm, located about three miles off the coast of Block Island, R.I. In addition, under a separate agreement, Alstom will provide long-term service and maintenance responsibilities for the turbines.

Under the turbine supply contract, Deepwater Wind made an initial multi-million dollar payment to Alstom in December 2013 that allowed Alstom to begin the manufacturing process for the turbines. Specifically, Alstom has begun procurement of all 15 blades for the wind farm, which will be delivered to Deepwater Wind in Europe in April 2014.

“Deepwater Wind’s multi-million dollar payment to begin manufacturing our project’s 15 blades ensures that our project will qualify for the federal Investment Tax Credit,” Mr. Grybowski said. “When combined with engineering and permitting work we already completed, we’re confident this payment puts us significantly over the required 5 percent ‘safe harbor’ for the ITC.”

Alstom intends to base its long-term service operations in Rhode Island and to perform pre-installation work in a Rhode Island harbor and will investigate opportunities to execute assembly activities in Rhode Island. The Technology

Alstom’s 6-megawatt Haliade 150 direct-drive offshore wind turbine will provide a significantly greater energy output than earlier anticipated. Alstom and Deepwater Wind anticipate the project’s capacity factor to exceed 47 percent, compared to initial projections of 40 percent. In addition, the turbines will provide for a reduced visual impact than earlier anticipated. The Haliade’s efficient design means that, at 589 ft tall, the turbines will be about 10 percent – or roughly 70 feet – shorter than Deepwater Wind’s maximum height allowance provided for in the company’s permit filings. Moreover, the rotors and nacelles of the turbines will be smaller than the permitted maximums.

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