The world’s first offshore wind farm was a great success, but after more than 25 years of operation the Vindeby wind turbines were worn down, and DONG Energy decided to decommission the wind farm. In March 2017, contractors began dismantling of the 11 wind turbines.
Vindeby Offshore Wind Farm in the south east of Denmark was constructed in 1991 as a demonstration project to prove whether it was possible to generate clean energy offshore. It proved successful, and has since passed its useful life. Many of its components will now be reused as spare parts in other turbines. Watch a video on the dismantling process here.
Blades, nacelle, and towers were dismantled and taken down individually by a mobile crane and placed on board a so-called jack-up vessel. The concrete foundations were broken down on site, mainly by hydraulic demolition shears and a hydraulic hammer, but also by breaking down the concrete using milling tools. The broken-down concrete and reinforcement structures were subsequently collected.
“This is the first time we’re dismantling an offshore wind farm, but luckily, we’ve been able to draw on our vast experience from constructing offshore wind farms and working offshore,” says Leif Winther, Senior Lead Business Developer in DONG Energy. “In cooperation with the winning contractors, we developed the dismantling method and entered a long process with the authorities to obtain all necessary permits.”
Throughout the dismantling process, up to 20 workers have taken part in the work, which took place in periods when the weather permitted offshore work. Water depths of only two to five meters added to the challenging conditions, as only a limited selection of vessels were able to work in the area.
Recycling components
All wind-turbine components and parts from the foundations were shipped to shore in Nyborg Harbour. The components will be reused as much as possible as spare parts for other wind turbines, while the blades will be reused in an innovative noise barrier concept.
Prior to this, however, some of the blades will become part of a research project at DTU Risø. Components that are not immediately reusable have been transported to a certified recovery company. After having generated green power for more than 25 years, the traces of the world’s first offshore wind farm, ‘Vindeby’ near Lolland, are now gone.
“And the tale of the world’s first offshore wind farm off Vindeby on Lolland will be preserved for posterity with one wind turbine from Vindeby Offshore Wind Farm becoming part of the exhibition at the Danish Museum of Energy in Bjerringbro in Jutland,” says Leif Winther.
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects
