Second contract awarded to Granada for Hywind wind farm

Aker Solutions have awarded a significant contract to Granada for the Hywind Tampen Offshore Wind Farm – the second contract GMH have won for the world’s first floating wind farm.

Due to begin operation at the end of 2022, the Hywind Tampen wind farm will consist of 11 8 MW wind turbines with a total capacity of 88 MW, meeting about 35% of the annual power demand of the five platforms Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B and C. Reducing the use of gas turbines on the fields, it is anticipated that Hywind Tampen will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 200,000 metric tons per year.

Aker Solutions have awarded Granada the contract to design, manufacture, third party certify and commission 11 of GMH’s Python davit cranes. Each Python crane unit measures approximately 4 meters in height, 4 meters in radius, and weighs approximately 2000kgs. The maximum lifting capacity of 1000kgs is needed to hoist the heavier serviceable components from the supply vessel to the laydown area on the platforms of the floating foundations.

Mark Sidwell, managing director at Granada, commented on the project,
“This is a prestigious contract award – not just for Granada but for our UK-based supply chain, and we are already looking to place orders and sub-contract specialist areas of work to other businesses in the UK. As well as being the world’s first commercial floating wind farm, Hywind Tampen is an exciting project for us to work on as we understand that it will be a test bed for further floating wind developments, exploring new and larger turbines and new installation methods. With an estimated project value of about NOK 5 billion for Hywind Tampen, the award to Granada for our Python cranes is a welcome testament to our expertise in the renewables sector.”

Granada will be delivering the 11 Python cranes over a six month period, and they will form a vital element of the wind farm, located in the North Sea,140 km from the shore, between the Snorre and Gullfaks platforms.