Atkins Solutions wins Wind Turbine Challenge

expat network

Atkins Solutions wins Wind Turbine Challenge

Atkins is one of the three winners of a Statoil challenge designed to develop new concepts for installation of the Hywind floating wind turbine system.

The chosen designs by Atkins, Modec and Ulstein are now undergoing further study to help bring the winning concepts to maturity.

The Innovation Challenge looked to other companies within the energy sector to make the Hywind concept available in more markets around the world. The Hywind demonstrator was launched in 2009 as the world’s first full-scale floating offshore wind demonstration unit, and a 30MW pilot park is planned for installation off the coast of Scotland in 2017, using five 6MW turbines.

With plans for even bigger arrays of turbines in the future, Statoil launched the Installation Challenge to look at options to improve the Hywind turbines assembly and installation sequence to make the concept more cost efficient and available in more markets around the world.

Atkins’ solution to this problem was to use multiple turbines attached to a reusable transportation frame. This reduced the draught of the structures, giving greater flexibility in where they can be assembled. Benefits include enabling assembly against a conventional quayside, which removes the requirement for offshore lifts and so offers potential for cost, schedule and safety gains. The concept also would allow multiple turbines to be towed simultaneously, increasing transport efficiency. The design would also reduce weather restrictions on towing and allow an increase in tow speed compared to towing single turbines.

Chris Cowland, Atkins’ projects director for offshore renewables, said: “The offshore renewable industry is constantly looking for ways to reduce costs. In this instance, we were able to draw upon our talent and expertise across our oil and gas teams in North America and the UK, as well as our renewables division, to develop innovative solutions for the benefit of the industry.”

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Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.