Pryme Group, an innovative engineering collective that designs, creates and delivers solutions to diverse global industrial markets, has launched two specialist tooling systems for offshore wind installations, via Caley Ocean Systems. The tools have been launched to the global market, furthering the company’s commitment to innovative engineering solutions for a
Plans for a community-owned wind farm in Cornwall have been submitted by UK-based, green energy proponent, Good Energy. If approved, it will be one of few in the nation that doesn’t rely on either financial backing or government subsidies and could mark the dawning of a new era in renewables
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Pryme Group, an innovative engineering collective that designs, creates and delivers solutions to diverse global industrial markets, has launched two specialist tooling systems for offshore wind installations, via Caley Ocean Systems. The tools have been launched to the global market, furthering the company’s commitment to innovative engineering solutions for a net zero future. Pile Fixation Tool (PFT) and PileProp are designed to support the installation of monopile and jacketed foundations for offshore wind, by providing a localised, rigid deflection constraint – and in the case of the PileProp system independent of vessel interaction or station – prior to the critical grouting process of securing the foundations. “Pryme Group is dedicated to developing the tools, technology and equipment for the energy transition. Our offshore wind capabilities have been significantly bolstered by these two innovative solutions, successfully operating in the field, and we are eager to work with existing and prospective partners to implement them across the world. We are dedicated to delivering solutions along with our partners to support current and future rapid growth opportunities within the offshore wind market,” said Kerrie Murray, CEO at Pryme Group. PFT is a bespoke monopile foundation installation support solution, designed to address the stabilising issues involved with monopile foundations being placed in pre-drilled boreholes, due to challenging seabed conditions. This proven technology has been used to support DEME with the foundation installation on the St Nazaire offshore wind farm. PileProp has been designed to aid securing the fixing of jacket foundations over pre-installed pile pins. This solution was designed to comply to DNV regulation ST-0126, which advised minimising movement in all planes to 1mm, prior to grouting. PileProp is currently being deployed in support of foundation installation work on St Brieuc offshore wind farm, with Caley’s client, Ailes Marines, being the developer. These systems were developed as part of Caley’s collaboration with engineering design specialists Houlder, which covers a wide range of engineering design and installation tooling for offshore wind farm projects. Both tooling systems minimise early age cycling and reduce weather and wave limitations to installation. This results in minimised downtime due to severe conditions, therefore lengthening the installation window, increasing efficiency and speed of the installation process, limiting risk of early failure of grouting and reducing initial project and through life costs. Pryme Group has broad capabilities supplying engineering products, services and solutions to diverse markets from oil and gas to nuclear to defence and marine to offshore wind and renewables. The group comprises five businesses with a total of 260 staff operating over 12 sites across the UK. Each business operates under its own brand name as part of the Pryme Group. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a community-owned wind farm in Cornwall have been submitted by UK-based, green energy proponent, Good Energy. If approved, it will be one of few in the nation that doesn’t rely on either financial backing or government subsidies and could mark the dawning of a new era in renewables technologies. The project will see the construction of 11 turbines with a generating capacity of 38.5MW near Bude in Cornwall. It is currently being considered by the Planning Inspectorate and will be reviewed in respect of is local impact, as well as global impact. Good Energy has remained open-minded about investment into the project, dubbed “Big Field Wind Farm”, and hopes the project will be be majority-held by local investors and residents. Juliet Davenport, Founder and CEO of Good Energy described plans as a “bold and innovative response” to last year’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review which has had disastrous consequence for the renewables sector. She continued to say that it would provide local people that opportunity to do their bit for the sustainability agenda, as well as representing great financial reward. With local ownership, all of the wind farm’s turnover will remain in the area and can be re-invested in the development of Cornwall. Back in 2014, plans were rejected by planners owing to the lack of clarity on government spending. Designs has since been re-drawn and will see the site increase its generating capacity by 50% whilst retaining the maximum height of the turbines at a proportionate small 125m. The revised plans also detail how the farm will be self-sufficient, operating exclusively on the payback from electricity generated. “Big Field Wind Farm” is hoped to provide power to over 22,000 homes local to the region. The concept of community ownership came in acknowledgement of the findings of a public opinion poll last September. The survey found that three quarters of all UK households were keen to support renewable energy projects providing profits directly benefited the local community.
