Construction on Westermeerwind Wind Farm to Start

NIEUWEGEIN, The Netherlands, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Westermeerwind BV reached financial close on 25 July for the turn key construction of the Westermeerwind wind farm in IJsselmeer. Work can now start on building the 48 wind turbines.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140725/698020 )

The Westermeerwind wind farm consists of 48 wind turbines with a capacity of 3 MW to be installed in the water between 500 and 1100 metres from the dikes of the Noordoostpolder. The client for the wind farm is Westermeerwind BV, which was founded to develop Westermeerwind at one of the windiest, and accordingly the most energy-efficient, locations in the Netherlands. Installation work is scheduled to start in March 2015. The first turbines are expected to start delivering power to the existing grid at the end of 2015. They will supply sustainable energy for some 160,000 homes.

Siemens concluded a contract in March 2013 for the wind farm to be constructed by a consortium of Ballast Nedam and Mammoet. Ballast Nedam is to design, deliver and install the 48 wind turbine foundations. Mammoet will then transport and install the 48 turbines. The joint contract value for the consortium is approximately 60 million euros.

The intensive collaboration with Siemens, which allowed an integrated approach to design from an early stage, has not only optimized costs, but also achieved certification of the wind farm design prior to financial close. This represents a significant advance in the control of risk and failure costs.

The foundations will be installed in water between 3 and 7 metres deep. The monopiles for the foundations are 5 m in diameter, have an average length of 40 m, and weigh between 250 and 300 tonnes. The wind turbine towers have a direct flange connection with the monopiles with no transition piece, so that the driving operation will be performed on the flange. When the driving work is complete a concrete maintenance platform will be attached and the wind turbines installed. The monopiles will be produced by SIF Group in Roermond, and the pile driver will be supplied by IHC Hydrohammer in Kinderdijk.

Ballast Nedam produces cost-efficient foundation solutions for the offshore wind industry. By integrated design and optimizing logistics and installation methods, Ballast Nedam is supporting the development of offshore wind energy in Europe. Mammoet has substantial experience in the offshore wind industry, including load-outs, transport, weighing and transhipment. Mammoet helps optimize the logistics process in this industry by marshalling, lifting, loading, transporting and installing the large and heavy components that are used in offshore wind farm construction.

Ballast Nedam targets its strategic focus at successfully acquiring and carrying out integrated projects in the working areas of housing, mobility, energy and nature in the Netherlands and internationally. We will expand related activities in niche markets and work on projects where we can make a difference for the client with our expert knowledge and skills. Ballast Nedam applies a differentiated market approach for its three divisions.

With further industrialization of the building process through the use of innovative modular concepts and standardization Ballast Nedam creates enduring quality at the lowest possible life cycle costs for its clients and society. The Ballast Nedam share is included in the Amsterdam Small Cap Index (AScX) of NYSE Euronext. http://www.ballast-nedam.com

Mammoet helps clients improve construction efficiency and optimize the uptime of plants and installations. For that purpose, we provide solutions for lifting, transporting, installing and decommissioning large and heavy structures.

Our services are focused on the petrochemical and mining industries, civil engineering, power generation and offshore projects. The logistic challenges in these industries are growing daily. Factors such as remote locations, harsh climates and a strong emphasis on the environment are constantly driving us towards smarter and safer solutions.

For over two hundred years, we have been known for the unique capability of our state-of-the-art equipment. But it is the trust of our clients that has brought us where we are today. Their confidence inspires 5,000 Mammoet professionals in over 80 branches to give it their all, every day and truly make a difference in projects all over the world.

More information: http://www.mammoet.com.

PRN NLD

SOURCE Ballast Nedam