Chinese OEM Mingyang Smart Energy has been tapped by floating wind developer Hexicon to supply turbines for its flagship project off the UK. As part of the deal, Mingyang will supply 8MW units for the TwinHub array, being built in the Celtic Sea at the site of a former wave-power test facility, as well handling engineering and design for the 32MW development.
“A strong and lasting collaborating with a major global wind turbine OEM is essential in any offshore wind project and even more important when you are a first mover in floating offshore wind,” said Marcus Thor, CEO at Hexicon.
Mingyang is making significant inroads into fixed and floating offshore wind around the globe. We are very pleased to be enlisting their experience to deliver our project.”
Mingyang Europe general manager Wei Chen stated: “The cooperation [with Hexicon] underlines our shared vision of improving the economics of floating wind through innovation.
“Additionally, the TwinHub project will showcase our… robust and versatile offshore solutions in one of the global hotspots for floating wind, and will be a great step forward for our future business in the UK and Europe.
Earlier this year, TwinHub, expected to be commissioned “between 2025 and 2027” in 50-60 metres of water some 16km off the coast, became the first floating wind project to secure a UK contract for difference from the UK government under its Round 4 tender, providing 15 years of revenue support.
Construction of the array, being supported by engineering giant Bechtel, is designed around Hexicon’s two-turbine TwinWind floating foundation topped with Mingyang’s MySE 8.0-180 turbines.
“TwinHub is working with the local supply chain and looking to act as a catalyst for bringing the economic benefits of floating offshore wind to the region, including Falmouth Port [in south-west England], which has a potential to play an important role in the project’s development, integration of Mingyang’s turbines onto [our] floating foundation and ongoing operation and maintenance services of the TwinHub wind farm,” said Thor.
The deal with Mingyang marks a breakthrough for the OEM in European floating wind after the company supplied one its 5.5MW turbines for China’s maiden sector project last year.
Last month, Hexicon, which has projects in development in Asia, Europe and the US, brought in UK maritime consultancy London Marine Consultants for lead-off engineering work on TwinHub.
