SHETLAND, Scotland, UK – Scottish firms Ocean Kinetics and Green Marine (UK) have formed a joint venture partnership to decommission OpenHydro’s tidal energy platform in the Orkney Islands.
The companies report that work is underway to remove the steel superstructure installed in 2006 at EMEC’s Fall of Warness test site which OpenHydro used to streamline its tidal turbine technology development. EMEC awarded the decommissioning contract in early April.
The OpenHydro test rig consisted of two steel piles drilled and grouted into the seabed, with a steel superstructure attached to the piles to provide a working area. The turbine component was previously fixed to the piles using two steel collars, which allowed the unit to be raised and lowered into the tide using two 15-tonne hydraulic winches.
The decommissioning work scope involves the entire removal of the steel superstructure, diamond wire cutting of the piles, along with cable disconnection and termination.
Ocean Kinetics says that it is providing divers, riggers, welders and ROV services, while Green Marine is providing offshore management, the Green Isle vessel, moorings and cable operations. Both firms say they are sharing responsibilities for operational engineering, cutting and heavy lift operations.
