The agreement – the first of its kind between a Scottish company and a major state-owned Chinese offshore wind energy company – was announced this week following a formal signing ceremony in Shanghai.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will develop a detailed business plan and commercial framework to develop and market turbine jacket substructures, towers and access systems.
Joel Staadecker, chief executive officer of SeaEnergy Renewables, said: ’The combination of our skills in delivering offshore infrastructure and turbines in deeper water and NCSC’s expertise in the design and manufacture of steel structures for marine applications provides the ideal platform to serve the growing global offshore wind industry as it moves into deeper waters.’
Earlier in the year, at the Offshore Wind Conference 2010 in Liverpool, SeaEnergy signed a letter of intent with the Ulstein Group to co-develop new service vessels for the offshore wind industry.
According to Mike Comerford of SeaEnergy, current vessels have shortcomings with respect to mobility, flexibility and operational window – issues that become more important when going further away from safe havens.
’In our philosophy, the vessels have to be more versatile and offer greater crew comfort, so they can stay longer offshore instead of sailing back and forth into port every day,’ he said.
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