Meerwind
Sepura Improves Worker Safety For The Meerwind Offshore Wind Farm
Background
The increasing demand for power to be generated from renewable sources has led to the development of a number of wind farms in the North Sea. One of these is Meerwind Süd│Ost which comprises a total of 80 wind turbines and is located over 100km off the coast of north-western Germany. Combined, the 3.6MW turbines generate enough electricity to power around 360,000 homes.
The challenge
When selecting a communications solution for the new wind farm, the operators faced several requirements and challenges.
Flexibility: the radio system would be used during construction, commissioning and operation – talkgroup requirements would vary significantly according to the various operational stages.
Over-the-air re-programming: given the challenging nature of the environment, to carry out remote adjustments to talkgroups and other aspects of the system.
Common technology: to cater for potential emergencies using technology shared with police and fire services and designed for emergency service usage.
Advanced functionality: in an offshore environment, the radio system can require complex functionalities such as priority and emergency calls and automatic person location (APL).
Safety: wind farm operatives may be required to undertake dangerous tasks such as sea rescues, fire-fighting, dealing with oil spills, and working at height and within enclosed spaces. For this reason, a significant degree of redundancy and a high level of functionality in direct mode are vital aspects of the wind farm’s communication system.
The solution
The choice of a TETRA communication solution by Sepura was a logical step for Meerwind Süd│Ost. TETRA was able to meet all of the wind farm’s specific communication requirements and challenges, while Sepura was able to offer not only a very comprehensive technical solution, but also extensive experience and understanding of the wind farm sector.
The wind farm’s system utilises STP8000 and STP9000 hand-portables alongside SRG3900 mobile radios, which are primarily mounted in vessels. These key elements are then supported both by Sepura’s robust accessories, including remote speaker microphones, and by a PC dispatcher.
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