Offshore Wind

Contact the Offshore Wind team

With rising demand for wind power, there is an increased need for wind turbine installation vessels, service operation vessels and cable laying vessels. ABB’s electric, automated and digital solutions help these ships enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability of operations.

Operational efficiency will not just be a competitive advantage but a necessity for staying relevant in the green energy era, where every aspect of the value chain—from production to distribution—must contribute to a more sustainable future.

ABB Marine & Ports provide the integrated solutions that enable ship owners to make the right investments for optimizing their operational efficiencies, safety, and long-term competitiveness throughout the lifetime of the vessel.

Be safer


Increase vessel safety with fault tolerant systems and advisory technology that supports better decision making, including weather and wave forecasting.

Increase vessel uptime


Improve vessel availability with full overview of coming maintenance needs backed by 24/7 remote expert assistance.

Meet environmental demands

Lower emission, increase fuel efficiency and optimise power output with advanced power systems, Energy Storage and Fuel Cells.

ABBS-I1

ABB’s integrated power and propulsion system for NKT sets new standards for cable layer performance

  • Integrated ABB Onboard DC Grid™ power distribution and Azipod® propulsion will optimize the performance of NKT’s new cable layer NKT Eleonora
  • The vessel will also be the first to feature a DC system with DNV DynPos AUTRO CB notation for dynamic positioning operations
  • The advanced cable layer will benefit from ABB Ability™ digital advisory solutions for enhanced safety, efficiency and availability!
View interview
Even-Larsen---CEO-Havfram-Wind

Havfram Wind CEO Even Larsen on the future of Offshore Wind and their new projects

At Nor-Shipping 2023 we were glad to host the Havfram Wind team on our stand in relation to the public announcement of ABBs supplying the two new vessels. Havfram Wind CEO Even Larsen spared us a few minutes to speak about the new projects as well as the status of the Offshore Wind market going forward. Check out the video to get some interesting thoughts and insights!
View interview
Even-Larsen---CEO-Havfram-Wind

Key vessel types

Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV)


For carrying out wind turbine installations in offshore wind farms
Cable Laying Vessel (CLV)



For cable installation between the wind mills as well as between the offshore wind farms and the shoreside
Service Operation Vessel (SOV)


For performing regular inspections and maintenance of the offshore wind farm
ABB-wins-systems-order-for-Eneti’s-next-generation-offshore-wind-turbine-installation-vessels-2-Image-credit-Eneti-Inc

Supporting the fast-growing offshore wind market

With rising demand for wind power, there is an increased need for WTIVs that can serve this growing segment efficiently and sustainably. In 2020, offshore wind generation grew by almost 30 percent, with capacity additions of 6 GW1. In its ‘Net Zero by 2050’ roadmap, the International Energy Agency fore-casts 310 GW in wind energy sources, of which 80 GW offshore, would need to be added to the global energy mix each year for the world to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century.


ABB are supplying Eneti’s two newbuild vessels with advanced power, advisory, automation and control systems for improved safety and performance.
Learn more

Highlights

Press release

ABB to supply hybrid power system for Nexans’ new cable-laying vessel

ABB will deliver an integrated power and propulsion system for Nexans’ forthcoming cable-laying vessel

Press release

ABB wins large systems order for Havfram Wind’s two new offshore wind turbine installation vessels

ABB will supply two newbuild Havfram Wind NG20000X-HF Wind Turbine Installation Vessels (WTIVs) with a comprehensive bridge-to-propeller solution

Web story

ABB Ability™ OCTOPUS widens operating window for wind farm development

Offshore wind turbines have become larger and are operating in deeper waters than ever before. They are also continuously exposed to extreme weather and erosion. Innovative planning software can increase vessel operation uptime when deploying robots and service engineers.

Generations: Business insight

The man from ATLANTIS: driving the offshore wind power transformation

Dr. Andry Maykol Pinto is on a mission to make offshore wind power truly sustainable. He is the Project Coordinator for the EU funded ATLANTIS initiative, which is testing technology with the ability to transform wind farm operation and maintenance.

Group press release

Azipod® propulsion marks 300th vessel milestone with eco-friendly Orange Marine cable ship contract

Integrated ABB power and propulsion package win from Colombo Dockyard brings milestone Azipod® installation for advanced cable-laying and repair vessel that will support offshore wind farms.

Press release

ABB’s OCTOPUS software finds smart way to increase wind vessel uptime by 35 percent

With ABB Ability™ Marine Advisory System – OCTOPUS and robotic maintenance working together, windfarm vessels’ working hours could increase by over a third, analysis calculates

Recorded webinar

ABB TechTalks: U.S. Offshore Wind Vessels - Building a Sustainable Fleet for a Sustainable World

United States Energy Secretary Granholm recently announced an ambitious goal of achieving 30GW Offshore Wind Deployment by 2030. An important aspect of developing new offshore wind farms are the specialty vessels that build and service those farms.

Web story

Onboard DC Grid™: flexible power distribution for modern vessel operations

As the energy sources available to the maritime industry evolve, so must the power platform enabling them. ABB’s Onboard DC Grid™ is a flexible power distribution system delivering efficiency gains to the ships of today and futureproofing them for the challenges of tomorrow.

Press release

United Wind takes ABB advisory software fleetwide to boost safety and efficiency of operations

United Wind Logistics’ module deck carrier VestVind will rely on ABB Ability™ Marine Advisory System – OCTOPUS to support real-time decision making as it transports large windfarm components such as turbines, foundations and blades to offshore installation sites

Press release

ABB wins system contract for Japan’s first super-size wind turbine installation vessel

ABB’s advanced power systems chosen for the first self-elevating wind turbine installation vessel built in Japan will support nation’s fast-expanding offshore wind sector

Web story

ABB OCTOPUS software provides real-time decision support for vessels servicing the offshore wind sector

Deep waters and rough seas challenge safe carriage of massive offshore windmill parts to installation sites. Heavy lift vessel owners such as OHT increasingly turn to ABB Ability™ Marine Advisory System – OCTOPUS for decision support that enables safe, efficient operations.

Reference

Pacific Orca - a Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV)

Compact propulsion units for speed, maneuverability and energy efficiency in precision offshore operations.

      

Azipod® propulsion: delivering efficiency to offshore energy


Offshore wind farms are often located in coastal waters, where cleaner operations thanks to reduced emissions from Azipod® propulsion can provide benefits to local environments. And as installations move further offshore, the flexibility and performance advantages of Azipod® thrusters can help expand operational windows, improving overall efficiency and reducing power consumption to, from and on the site.

Read more here.