Energy services company Aibel utilizes software from Safran to successfully deliver complex wind power converter station projects. With project management software from Safran Aibel can plan, execute, develop, and install offshore wind converter stations in the North Sea. Additionally, Safran’s schedule risk analysis software allows Aibel to integrate all aspects of schedule planning and risk into a single process.
About Aibel
Aibel, a long time Safran client, and a leading EPCIC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning) service company, is taking a strong position in its new market: offshore wind projects. With 4300 employees operating from 8 locations in 3 countries, and with Yard facilities in Thailand and Norway, it is prepared for ambitious growth.
Change is not new to Aibel. It has shifted its service delivery focus from 100% oil and gas related business to a new 50-50 split between O&G and renewables and offshore wind, and Aibel is very well aligned with this shift. It can build on nearly 140 years of experience in new market adoption, change, and growth.
Aibel operates three business units: a) modifications and yard services, b) field development, and c) offshore wind. The scope of its services includes all aspects such as FEEDs (Front End Engineering and Design) management, detail engineering, procurement, fabrication services, system completion, maintenance, operational support, and decommissioning.
Taking a Position in the Energy Transition
Whilst its upstream oil and gas industry segment will remain a core market for many years, Aibel is developing a big foothold in the renewable energy sector in parallel. The company is building on experience, know-how, and competence earned through its multiple successful projects in the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry. This background has helped Aibel build a worldwide reputation and strong position in the offshore wind market.
In 2015 Aibel delivered its first offshore wind project. The DolWin Beta platform, near Helgoland in the German North Sea, is one of the largest wind power converter stations. It converts more than 900MW of wind generated electricity. Aibel also supported Equinor, a valuable offshore wind energy company, in the Hywind Scotland floating wind power project from design through installation and commissioning support.
Currently, the company has 2 offshore wind projects ongoing: DoggerBank wind farm and DolWin 5. The DolWin 5 Project will deliver a new HVDC (high-voltage, direct current) platform (DolWin Epsilon) and an onshore converter station for the offshore grid connection project. DolWin Epsilon will be installed in the DolWin cluster on the German sector of the North Sea, where 3 Dolwin platforms are operating, including DolWin Beta, Aibel’s initial wind platform.
Aibel’s scope within the EPCIC contract and the consortium is to provide engineering and procurement. Keppel FELS’s yard in Singapore will be constructing the converter platform. After transportation from Singapore to Haugesund, Aibel will install Hitachi’s HVDC conversion equipment, taking on responsibility for commissioning, transport, and installation of the complete converter platform offshore.
In the Dogger Bank area in the UK section of the North Sea Aibel has been instrumental in developing the world’s largest offshore wind farm. In 2019 Aibel was awarded the contract to deliver two converter platforms. The contract also included an option for a third platform. This option was exercised in February 2021.
The Dogger Bank platforms will have a lean design, with a steel jacket structure and no living quarters or helideck. The platforms will normally be unmanned, operated from shore, and accessed only by SOV (Service Operations Vessel).
The project is managed from Haugesund. Construction of the topsides will take place at Aibel's yard in Thailand. The completed topsides will be transported to Haugesund, where they will be outfitted with latest generation HVDC converter technology before final completion and commissioning.
In sum, these projects have positioned Aibel as a preferred supplier in the European offshore wind market. These offshore wind projects and other renewable projects form as much as 50% of Aibel’s backlog of projects. The company foresees growing demand within the wind segment with huge potential for new projects and job offerings in many parts of the world.
How Has Aibel Adapted?
Offshore wind converter stations are a different kind of project from traditional oil & gas platforms. A classic oil topside contains a large amount of utility, mechanical, and processing equipment, while wind topsides consist of a deck with a large electrical equipment box. A wind topside project revolves around provision for the structural box and requires careful attention to planning critical paths, meeting deadlines, and achieving milestones like the critical lifting dates. The EIT work is a big part of the scope of work. Aibel works closely with HVDC equipment suppliers and subcontractors to ensure delivery dates are met, scope and scope growth are managed, and all interfaces are planned and managed.
Over the years Aibel has developed highly efficient processes and project execution models for its oil and gas business. In order to address differences between a typical oil rig and offshore wind rig Aibel began an internal change and improvement program to revise processes and execution methods to accommodate changes in scope and in commercial activity.
Impact from Safran & Safran Project
Safran Project is essential for the execution of the “Aibel Way.” Safran Project is used from the drawing board right through fabrication, installation, and commissioning. All project-scheduling related work including bid preparation, studies, FEED, and completion of EPCIC projects is carried out using Safran Project.
Aibel utilizes Safran Project to align all activities across the different phases of an EPC project, to ensure the correct sequence and delivery of drawings and equipment to construction so that the project can be efficiently installed. Sharing schedule information with partners and subcontractors is critical when it comes to delivering successful projects. Unfortunately, not everybody uses Safran Project as their scheduling and project control system, and so they must be able to share information effectively in several formats.
The internal improvement project, which examined a variant of Aibel’s execution method to deliver these projects, defined some changes necessary to Safran Project. Safran is developing its software alongside Aibel and is implementing the necessary enhancements in support of this market initiative.
Aibel foresees a higher focus on management of uncertainty and risks associated with its project and tasks in the near future, and the schedule risk analysis tool within Safran Project is essential in helping the company support the necessary risk analytics.
Commercial Environment
Bidding for future work is different within the wind sector, compared to traditional oil and gas sector bidding. Preparation of contracts is a significant challenge with differing requirements for the clients in the new industry. Additionally, many of these new clients have a different project management culture, which has prompted Aibel to make changes in its processes.
With significant competition for wind contracts, many of Aibel’s business rivals will also contend for the opportunities in this market. However, with support from Safran in developing its effective project execution method for wind projects, Aibel is highly competitive and winning new projects.
Offshore Wind Growth is Forecasted to Accelerate
Offshore wind is a global growing market that represents opportunities to be seized. The growth of renewable capacity is forecasted to accelerate. To reach its climate goals, the European Union (EU) has targeted installation of 300 GW offshore wind power producers by 2050. Including the UK and other countries outside of the EU, a total of 400-450 GW of power from offshore wind is expected by 2050, which represents considerable growth compared to the approximately 33 GW installed today. The International Energy Agency expects 2000 GW offshore wind to be installed worldwide before 2050.
For more information about Aibel's projects and their capabilities, visit www.aibel.com
