Mammoet-Giant Taiwan has been selected by Ørsted Taiwan to provide its lifting and logistical capabilities for the 920MW Greater Changhua offshore windfarms in Taiwan.
The offshore windfarms project is the latest initiative taken by Taiwan toward their green energy targets of 5.7GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2025.
“We are thrilled and honored to have been awarded the contract to help construct Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms,” said Chris Schraa, Managing Director of Mammoet Taiwan. “Mammoet-Giant remains steadfast in our mission to deliver exceptional performance and contribute to the sustainable growth of Taiwan’s renewable energy sector.”
The joint venture between Mammoet and Taiwanese Giant Heavy Machinery Services has already played a pivotal role in the local offshore wind there since 2017. This time around, the JV will be entrusted with the marshalling and lifting requirements for 66 suction bucket jackets.
To lift the 2,500-tonne objects, Mammoet will employ its 5,000-tonne capacity SK350 ring crane, a crane with great reach and lifting capabilities. The SK350 ring crane will lift the buckets from deck carriers to the quayside and after temporary storage on site, onto deck carriers ferrying the jackets to the installation vessel in the field. Using this methodology eliminates the need for vessel repositioning during offloading and loading operations.
Another benefit provided by the use of the SK350 is its capacity to work in areas with high wind speeds, meaning greater flexibility is allowed with scheduled lifts and loading speeds. This reduces vessel turnaround times at the port to a minimum, resulting in multiple cost reductions and further schedule optimization.
“Projects like these showcase the strength of our setup in Taiwan as well as the value of early engagement in engineering,” said Schraa. “This enables us to offer smarter and safer solutions, optimizing schedules and processes through direct communication with the developer.”
Mammoet’s involvement with the project is their latest in a string of initiatives enacted toward either clean energy or decarbonising the lifting industry. The SK350 crane can be powered electrically, with the world’s largest electric crane – the SK 6000 – currently under construction, and the civil engineering specialists announcing a new range of electric SPMT trailers.