Vestas OffshoreSo much more than traditional Wind Power

Operating as a wholly owned subsidiary under the auspices

of the Vestas Group, Vestas Offshore focuses exclusively on

planning, constructing and operating wind farms at sea. The

motivation for Vestas to create an independent business unit

for this area was that working with offshore installations

involves much more than simply transferring expertise

from onshore sites to the sea. The field of offshore wind

power demands very special competences in all areas of

the process – competences that form the very foundations

of Vestas Offshore.

The reason we are so far advanced in this area is that we

take our offshore work seriously and work seriously offshore.

In fact, Vestas has installed more than two thirds of all the

offshore wind turbines currently operating worldwide. Vestas

Offshore is quite simply second to none when it comes to

experience in operating in the tough conditions of the open sea.

Vestas Offshore is truly global, and our organisation ensures

that we always cover every aspect of every single project,

in line with the specific requirements of each and every

customer. In fact, the organisation has been developed to

create a very strong company that is fully equipped and ready

to work with the specific conditions and the special base of

experience that are crucial to the successful completion of

offshore projects.

The shared ambition is naturally to create unique, rewarding

and fully customised projects – on time, every time. Projects

that constantly push back the boundaries of the conventional,

but which always live up to our promises.

Since 2002, we have been almost constantly at work,

completing six projects and installing 236 turbines.

Hundreds of our employees have worked thousands of hours

– with no serious accidents.

This brochure is intended as an introduction to Vestas

Offshore, our general work methods and some of the projects

we have already completed.

Unsurpassed experience

Installing offshore wind power plants is a unique and highly specialised business – So is Vestas Offshore

Vestas Offshore is synonymous with professionalism,

overview and the capacity to take a holistic

approach to projects from the initial idea to the

completed wind farm, dealing with the whims of

Mother Nature and all the other special challenges

that apply to offshore projects. Vestas Offshore is a

prime example of strength and flexibility combined.

It is an independent company in the Vestas Group,

a company distinguished by highly specialised

competences combined with peerless experience

in the field of offshore wind power.

Keeping the pioneering spirit alive

From the first-ever offshore turbine to the largest offshore

wind farm in the world – Vestas has helped to write the

book of offshore wind power. Since we erected the first-ever

offshore turbine off the coast of Sweden, in 1990, we have

installed more than 700 MW of capacity in offshore projects

in Europe, including the largest offshore wind farm in the

world to date (Horns Reef, DK) and five other turnkey wind

farms: North Hoyle, Scroby Sands, Kentish Flats, Barrow (UK)

and Egmond aan Zee (NL).

Back at the beginning, the projects were primarily minor

pioneer ventures, such as the 1995 Tunø Knob (DK) project

that involved the installation of ten turbines. However, these

projects subsequently began to develop in both size and

complexity; for example, even though the installation of

the turbines at Yttre Stengrund (S) in 2001 was blessed

with relatively gentle weather conditions, we still had to

design foundations that could withstand the influence of

pack-ice.

The maturing marketIn 2002, Vestas completed installation of the Horns Reef

wind farm, which was the first of several large-scale offshore

projects. Projects involving wind farms at sea pose extra

demands on the technicians who are to handle their service

and maintenance. For example, the Horns Reef turbines can

only be reached by helicopter for much of the year due to

adverse weather conditions. That is why Vestas Offshore

employees receive special offshore training and draw on

the experience the company has built up over the years

– experience that forms the basis for the know-how and

skills that working offshore demands.

Meeting customer expectationsEvery single offshore wind farm project is unique, with its

own special challenges and distinctive features – in the same

way as every customer is unique, with individual wishes

and requirements. We at Vestas Offshore are fully aware of

the importance of meeting these specific requirements, and

we have the experience to do so. Everything that has been

accomplished offshore – from the delivery and installation

of turbines, to the completion of state-of-the-art turnkey

wind farms – was done first by Vestas. We were the first wind

power company to take on the challenges of the offshore

sector.

Our experience stretches back to the days of the offshore

wind pioneers. And we work to expand this experience day

by day by day through our work on new offshore projects. So

even though every single project is unique, Vestas Offshore

always has the staff and the know-how to deal with any

offshore challenges involved.

Every project is unique

Our experience in the field of offshore wind projects is second to none

Country SwedenOwner VattenfallInstallation year 2001 Number of turbines 5Turbine type NM72-2.0MWMW: 10

Country DenmarkOwner Dong EnergyInstallation year 2003 Number of turbines 1Turbine type V90-3.0MWMW: 3

Country NetherlandsOwner Shell & NUONInstallation year 2006 Number of turbines 36Turbine type V90-3.0MWMW: 108

Country NetherlandsOwner WP Q7 Holding B.V.Installation year 2007 Number of turbines 60Turbine type V80-2.0MWMW: 120

Country DenmarkOwner Vattenfall & DONGInstallation year 2002 Number of turbines 80Turbine type V80-2.0MWMW: 160

YTTRE STENGRUND FREDERIKSHAVN

Country United KingdomOwner E.ONInstallation year 2000 Number of turbines 2Turbine type V66-2.0MWMW: 4

BLYTH

Country United KingdomOwner E.ON UKInstallation year 2004 Number of turbines 30Turbine type V80-2.0MWMW: 60

SCROBY SANDS

Country United kingdomOwner Npower RenewablesInstallation year 2004 Number of turbines 30Turbine type V80-2.0MWMW: 60

BARROW

Country United KingdomOwner VattenfallInstallation year 2005 Number of turbines 30Turbine type v90-3.0MWMW: 90

KENTISH FLATS

Country United KingdomOwner Dong EnergyInstallation year 2006 Number of turbines 30Turbine type V90-3.0MWMW: 90

NORTH HOYLE

Country United KingdomOwner E.ON UKInstallation year 2008 Number of turbines 60Turbine type V90-3.0MWMW: 180

ROBIN RIGG

OFFSHORE WINDPARK Q7 EGMOND AAN ZEE HORNS REV

Country DenmarkOwner Dong EnergyInstallation year 1995 Number of turbines 10Turbine type V39-500kWMW: 5

TUNØ KNOB

In a harsh Offshoreenvironmentplanning is essential

Construction stages

In April 2002, work was started on the installation

of the largest offshore wind farm in the world

– a plant comprising eighty V80 wind turbines at

Horns Reef in the Danish part of the North Sea.

Despite the fact that this was a new venture,

no-one ever said: “that cannot be done”. Vestas

Offshore worked with a number of companies

including A2SEA, which supplies installation

vessels, and the working relationship with the

customer – the Danish utility company Elsam

(now a part of DONG Energy) – also ran smoothly.

In fact, all parties displayed great commitment

to making the first really large offshore project

a success.

As the first of its kind, this giant project put

the Vestas Health & Safety policy to the test

in the challenging offshore environment. The

policy really proved its worth here and has

subsequently been applied and refined through

Vestas Offshore’s work since 2002 to install 236

turbines in six major projects. In fact, hundreds

of employees have worked thousands of hours

offshore without any serious injuries.

Good planning was the key to success of the

Horns Reef project, and the pioneering spirit

was maintained throughout. As a result, the

work was completed on schedule and the last

turbine was connected to the electricity grid in

December 2002.

Pioneering spirit in the wild west Horns Reef, DK

Installation and grouting of the transition piece on the foundation section

In April 2003, Vestas Offshore started work on

the first major offshore wind farm in British

waters. The customer was energy company

RWE npower, and the result can be seen today

in the thirty V80 turbines of the North Hoyle

Wind Farm, approximately 8 km off the coast

of North Wales.

This project was an exciting challenge, as it

was to be the first of its kind in Britain. Vestas

joined forces with Mayflower Energy to form

a consortium to handle both the project

management and construction of the plant. The

plans were laid and work commenced. However,

as is often the case with offshore work, a number

of unforeseen factors came into play, but thanks

to flexibility, engineering finesse and closely

targeted planning, Vestas succeeded in delivering

the wind farm to the customer on time.

All in all, the project to establish the first major

offshore wind farm in British waters provided

Vestas Offshore with plenty of experience

in the areas of management, organisation,

environmental issues and safety, and its success

was attributable to the overwhelmingly positive

atmosphere and to the enthusiasm of everyone

involved.

Turnkey project heralds winds of change North Hoyle, UK

Installation of the tower on the transition piece

The Scroby Sands project at a site off the coast of

Norfolk, in the east of England, involved building

a wind farm comprising thirty V80 turbines on

a sandbank that moves up to three metres a

day. It was quite a challenge that demanded

very precise planning, especially as it involved

working with a great many subcontractors.

Even though Vestas Offshore was working on

a large, turnkey project, the job was completed

without any accidents, which must be considered

a great success – particularly when taking into

account that almost 200 people were involved

in installing the foundations, and almost 60 in

the erection and commissioning of the turbines

themselves.

With this project, Vestas Offshore also reaffirmed

Vestas’ role of industry pioneer through the

approach taken to installing the foundations,

and the successful completion of the project

was largely attributable to the excellent

working relationship with the customer and

the local companies. All the parties involved

supplemented one another and generously

shared their specialist knowledge.

A project constantly on the move Scroby sands, UK

Lifting the nacelle for installation on top of the tower

In December 2003, construction work was

started on the Kentish Flats plant, sited 7 km off

the coast of Kent, close to the Thames Estuary in

the south of England. This was to be the largest

offshore wind farm in British waters to date,

and the installation of the thirty V90 turbines

involved ran smoothly, due in no small part to

the excellent dialogue with the customer, the

Danish utility company Elsam A/S that is now

owned by Dong Energy.

The Kentish Flats project, today owned by

Swedish utility Vattenfall, was carried through on

remarkable team spirit and peerless flexibility.

It developed into something of a showcase

project: innovative and challenging, solid and

secure, and backed by great support from the

base organisation.

Project meetings were held every 14 days, and

Elsam posted representatives on site, where

they participated with great commitment and

extensive knowledge. This made it possible for

Vestas Offshore to ensure that its work was

fully in line with customer expectations at all

times. As a result, the hand-over took place on

8 December 2005 - right on time according to

the contract. The phenomenal team spirit and

the painstaking planning were crucial to the

success of the venture.

24-carat team effort Kentish Flats, UK

Fitting the third blade to the hub

In 2006, Vestas Offshore literally found itself in

deep water - and approximately 12 km from the

shore - when work was started on the Egmond

aan Zee project, the first offshore wind farm

in Dutch waters. The order for a turnkey wind

power plant comprising thirty-six V90 turbines

was placed by Noordzeewind, a joint venture

involving Shell and Nuon, a Dutch utility.

Once again, the weather was an important factor

during the construction phase. Weather forecasts

were constantly monitored, and work often had

to be done at night when the wind dropped,

but everything ran very smoothly as everyone

involved in the project displayed remarkable

flexibility. Moreover, the decision to engage

local contractors made it possible to establish

efficient logistics and generate good backing

from the local population.

Naturally, working in such extreme conditions

made high demands on safety. However, this

was never a problem as both the customer and

Vestas applied stringent requirements in this

area and proved an excellent match in the fields

of communication and project management

standards.

The key feature of this project was excellent

teamwork. The wind farm was built via a joint

venture with Ballast Nedam, a Dutch offshore

construction company, and the two companies

succeeded in making constructive use of each

other’s knowledge and experience in a way that

gave the whole project a lift.

Success in deep water Egmond aan Zee, NL

First offshore wind farm in Dutch waters

The weather was a major challenge when Vestas

joined forces with the engineering company of

Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) in 2005 to establish

an offshore wind farm for Dong Energy and

Centrica Renewable Energy. The new wind farm

was to comprise thirty V90 turbines, and the site

chosen was in the Irish Sea, 7 km from Barrow-

in-Furness. Vestas Offshore quickly adapted to

the extreme weather conditions and adjusted its

plans to ensure that the demanding conditions

did not adversely affect the project.

It was an exciting project, where Vestas’

competences and experience were really put

to the test, but KBR and Vestas worked well

together, exchanging experience and sharing

responsibility.

This exchange of experience is crucial to any

project and it depends more on personal

interaction than on written instructions. This

is why project managers are now involved at

a much earlier stage, to give customers the

opportunity to clear up issues of a technical

nature early on in the process, and to meet the

people they will actually be working with on the

project.

Transfer vessel ready for crew transfer at boat landing point

Reaping the wild windBarrow, UK

Every single offshore project starts on dry land. It takes thorough preparation to outline, structure and commission a project – and it takes ongoing dialogue to complete it. From the first contact with the customer to delivery and service, Vestas Offshore runs its projects on the basis of a clearly defined main process.

To start with, Vestas Offshore puts together a project team involving representatives from all parts of the organisation to make sure of matching customer wishes and requirements in all areas. The project and service departments are involved as early as the negotiation phase to ensure that the contract agreed upon is practical to work with during the implementation of the project itself. At the same time, Vestas Offshore sets up a broadly based, inter-disciplinary team to balance Vestas’ and the customer’s expectations so as to avoid misunderstandings and disappointments.

On signature of the contract, the Sales Department transfers responsibility for the project to the Project & Technology Department, and, in close consultation with the customer, Vestas Offshore starts work on designing and planning in detail. Risk assessments and Health & Safety plans also constitute an important part of the work, as Vestas Offshore gives highest priority to the safety of all those involved.

As soon as the first activities have been initiated on site, the project team actually moves out to the site to ensure close contact and dialogue with the customer and the sub-contractors. During the construction phase, the local service technicians who will subsequently be responsible for operation and maintenance also become actively involved in the project so as to ensure a smooth transfer from construction to operation. Work can then be started on the assembly and erection of the turbines themselves.

A dedicated technical team ties up all the mechanical aspects before the commissioning team carries out the start-up and test procedures.

Close contact is essential when dealing with the major logistical challenges involved in building an offshore wind power plant. There are many factors to take into account. There are the onshore logistics of transporting wind turbine components from production facilities to the preassembly harbour, either by road or by sea. Then there is the matter of the preassembly site itself – with the cranes, storage facilities and site offices required to prepare the turbines for loading onto the installation vessels. And once these preparations are complete, the turbines have to be transported to the installation site where the actual installation process is to be carried out. Finally, the newly installed turbines have to be commissioned and tested. This is an intricate operation that involves a number of crew transfer vessels, whose operation has to be co-ordinated with that of specialist vessels and equipment for the installation of foundations and sub sea cables. Of course, all theses activities have to be organised and aligned to take into account weather conditions and to ensure that the highest priority is accorded to the safety of all the workers involved.

Throughout the process, Vestas Offshore keeps the customer up-to-date with status reports, Health & Safety statistics and reports on QA and QC issues. The company always strives to establish a close dialogue and a constructive working relationship with both customers and suppliers, and the actual work process is based on years and years of offshore experience. This puts Vestas Offshore in a strong position and makes it possible for the company to live up to its aim of making work process even better by continuously collating and implementing new experience and know-how.

Project preparation

Dialogue is crucial in fulfilling customer expectations

The firstCornerstone is founded on

solid ground

We are Onsite

Service and safety are two sides of the same coin. At least they are when you are working offshore and you have to adapt to very varied and, at times, very challenging conditions. Both the operation and maintenance services we provide for our customers, and the safety of our colleagues are areas to which we at Vestas Offshore give the highest priority.

We have a large, dedicated offshore service organisation which, over the years, has harvested the specialist experience that lays the foundations for the successful operation of offshore projects. Our contracts cover the operation and maintenance required to ensure that our customers’ wind farms constantly return optimal performance. We ensure this, for example, by linking a local team to each and every wind farm – a team that specialises in handling precisely the turbine models in question, and that has the competence and overview to perform even

the most demanding service and maintenance functions onsite.

Moreover, Vestas Offshore devotes appreciable resources to Health & Safety, and in this area, we actually have our own organisation that focuses exclusively on offshore challenges. This ensures that we always follow the very best procedures in our work, and, at the same time, enhance everyday attention to safety.

Another of our strengths at Vestas Offshore is our dedicated warehouse of spare parts and tools, as this assures rapid delivery of these key components, and guarantees that both spare parts and tools are always certified and maintained in full working order.

Cost-effective operation is based on efficient service and maintenance

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Vestas Offshore A/SAlsvej 21 8900 Randers Denmark Tel. +45 97 30 00 00 Fax +45 97 30 00 01 vestas@vestas.comwww.vestas.com

To see a complete list of our sales and service units, visit www.vestas.com