Pioneering Tech for Offshore Wind Farm Maintenance

James Fisher Renewables pioneers trial of innovative Ship-to-Turbine Oil Change System

James Fisher Renewables conducted an innovative trial of Ship-to-Turbine (STT), an oil change system set to significantly improve safety, efficiency and reduce down time in offshore wind turbine gearbox oil changes.

James Fisher Renewables reports that it has successfully trialed an innovative oil transfer system for the direct extraction and refill of offshore wind gearbox oils from a conventional access vessel, a trial performed on an offshore wind farm off the Norfolk coast.

James Fisher Renewables successfully demonstrated the STT system by completing the entire evacuation, flushing and re-fill of the gear oil system in less than four hours total pumping time per turbine. The STT system employs proven vacuum, preheating and filtration technology to transfer the oil from a self-contained deck-mounted unit, through umbilical hoses directly eliminating the need to fill and hoist containers via the nacelle crane. In comparison oil change operations undertaken in the traditional manual method can take in the region of two days.

“The trial successfully demonstrated the innovative method of changing offshore turbine gearbox oil," said Alan Heslop, Business Development Manager, James Fisher. "We worked closely with our partner, Chemical Corporation, to adapt, marinise and develop their onshore Sage Oil Vac technology for offshore applications, creating a flexible system suitable for any oil volume and type.”

According to James Fisher, Ship-to-Turbine has the potential to revolutionize offshore oil change operations, while increasing the safety of technicians, reducing the risk of pollution and significantly increasing operational efficiency.