With construction slated for 2027 at the Tormywheel Wind Farm in Central Scotland, the latest project from SENSEWind will demonstrate their modular self-installing tower and rotor nacelle assembly system in action, maintaining their programme to deliver a commercial SENSE turbine installation system onshore in 2027 and fixed bottom offshore by 2030

Adding to its pipeline of demonstration projects, UK-based SENSEWind plans to construct a 6 MW wind turbine in Scotland using its innovative SENSE installation system. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate the self-installation of their new modular, tripod tower as well as a scaled-up versionof their 2MW turbine installation system.

The project, scheduled for construction in 2027 at Muirhall Energy’s Tormywheel Wind Farm, continues the company’s innovation journey and will follow the installation of their 2 MW demonstrator planned for the first half of 2025, also at Tormywheel. The 6 MW prototype machine provides the platform to move from development to a commercial SENSE installation and service system, and will also serve to refine the logistics, transport and installation of the new tower design. Learnings from the 2 MW project are already being incorporated into the 6 MW commercial prototype design.

“Fundamentally, the SENSE system provides the means to install the turbine rotor nacelle, undertake major component repair and all O&M operations without the need for super-size expensive cranes and crane vessels. Safety is at the forefront of the SENSE system. Installation is carried out under automated remote control without the need for personnel working under suspended loads. SENSE service platforms can be attached to the tower rail system to provide safe working systems during service and inspections throughout the turbine life,” said SENSEWind Chair, Julian Brown. “The new modular tower allows for cost-effective self-installation and leverages proven materials and methods from the oil & gas industry. Thanks to support from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and other investors, we’re able to put these solutions through their paces to achieve our ultimate goal, which is to make large wind turbines easily and safely installable, onshore and offshore.”

The tripod tower with its integrated rail system promises notable cost reductions in manufacture by being fabricated from standard steel pipe widely used in the oil and gas industry.  Pipe connectors supplied by Aberdeen-based GMC are used to rapidly join the tower sections during installation, doing away with flange connections and eliminating costly regular inspection and maintenance of tower bolted joints.

“The 6 MW SENSEWind demonstration project, with its new tower design, solves one of the wind industry’s greatest challenges in the coming decades – how to economically transport and build large turbines with tall towers on remote sites,” said Chris Walker, CEO of Muirhall Energy and SENSEWind board member. “We are proud to support SENSEWind’s innovation journey with our test site at Tormywheel and believe the project will be a giant leap forward for the wind sector.”

Julian Brown continued, “By solving the tower logistical and cost challenge, we see the SENSE solution being used on tall-tower onshore wind projects, as well as on fixed-bottom offshore wind projects as a competitive alternative to extra-large monopiles. The design is also easily integrated into the structure of many of the leading floating foundation concepts.”

SENSEWind is looking for additional investment from interested parties to deliver this major innovation to market – an innovation which not only increases safety and reduces cost and risks for all wind projects, but also opens up development of remote sites, both onshore and offshore, which at present may not be economically viable.