Fred. Olsen Windcarrier delivers state-of-the-art offshore wind installation

Today’s offshore wind industry has a luxury problem. Governments are investing in production and establishing pro-offshore wind energy policies. The EU Offshore Renewable Strategy, for instance, aims to dramatically increase the production of offshore renewables from 12 GW at present to 300 GW by 2050. But here’s the rub:

“The industry is under enormous pressure to expand as quickly as possible. If there are not enough companies like ours to support future wind farm developments, which is uncertain, progress will come to a standstill,” explains Rasmussen.

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Fred. Olsen Windcarrier provides cost-efficient operations for the transport, installation, and operation and maintenance (O&M) of bottom-fixed wind turbines. As wind farms increase production capacity, the company is equipped to service ever-larger and more complex wind turbines.

The company owns and operates three installation, or jack-up, vessels, which lie at the heart of its solution. “We have a diverse fleet to handle all turbine sizes, both now and in the future,” says Rasmussen.

The company upgrades its vessels in line with wind turbine developments. “We will need stronger cranes on our vessels that can lift higher and heavier as the size of the towers and the diameter between the blades increases. Today’s turbines can be 184 metres tall and produce up to 12 MW. In 2025 and beyond, the corresponding figures will be 250 metres and 15–20 MW,” he adds.

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Drawing on its maritime roots, the company plays a vital role in supporting the green transition to renewables.

“Our comprehensive know-how comes from the 175-year legacy of Fred. Olsen, one of Norway’s first shipping companies. Over the decades, Fred. Olsen has been a global first-mover in maritime developments, including early entry into offshore wind in 1996 with Fred. Olsen Renewables,” says Rasmussen.

Moreover, the company focuses on cost efficiency in all of its operations, helping to lower the levelised cost of energy and boosting the competitiveness of offshore wind.

It also places ESG high on its agenda, enacting initiatives to reduce marine pollution from ballast water and sewage on vessels, and the rate of worker injuries is extremely low at just 1.1 per cent.

Over 380 GW of offshore wind capacity is predicted to be added globally from 2023 to 2032. Nearly half of this growth is expected to occur in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Europe at 41 per cent and North America at 9 per cent.

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier is already well positioned in the market. To date, the company has installed more than 900 wind turbines for a total of 6 000 MW of installed capacity in Europe, Taiwan and the US, including 50 per cent of all offshore turbines in Germany.

“We work closely with each customer and provide full transparency. We don’t do workarounds,” says Rasmussen.

“Given the market trends, we plan to increase our focus on the Asia-Pacific region and continue to expand in Europe and the US,” he concludes.