Scottish companies Ocean Kinetics and Green Marine (UK) have joined forces to decommission OpenHydro’s tidal energy platform in Orkney. This collaboration seeks to remove the steel superstructure installed in 2006 at EMEC’s Fall of Warness test site, where OpenHydro developed its tidal turbine technology.
The decommissioning contract was awarded in early April by EMEC.
OpenHydro was a pioneer in using the Fall of Warness test site. This device was the first tidal turbine tidal turbine connected to the grid in Scotland and the first to generate electricity for the UK national grid.
Tidal energy platform decommissioning details
The OpenHydro test platform consisted of two steel piles anchored to the seabed and a steel superstructure that served as a working area, while the turbines were attached to the piles by steel collars, allowing them to be handled with 15-ton hydraulic winches.
The dismantling project includes the total removal of the steel structure, diamond wire cutting of the piles and disconnection of cables. Ocean Kinetics provides diving, welding and welding services. ROV while Green Marine manages offshore operations and provides vessel and mooring expertise.
The work is carried out during dead tides, taking advantage of low tide windows where the water flow is slower, as it allows operations in calmer conditions. Roger Goudie, marine project manager for Ocean Kinetics, highlighted his team’s ability to handle these conditions and work closely with Green Marine.
Successful decommissioning of OpenHydro
The two companies combine their skills in operational engineering, cutting and heavy lifting, benefiting from their vast experience in marine works, such as subsea such as subsea servers and aquaculture platforms. So far, the superstructure of OpenHydro has been broken down into smaller components for retirement, thanks to Green Isle’s efforts.
To complete the decommissioning, the Green Isle will remain moored in a four-point configuration, allowing divers to operate safely. The Marine License requires that the seabed be returned to its original state, which will be achieved by cutting the pile bases flush with the seabed with diamond wire machines.
Green Marine’s operations manager, Terry Norquay, reported that the overhead infrastructure has been successfully removed and will proceed with the removal of the piles and cables.
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Source and photo: greenmarineuk
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