Half a million homes can enjoy clean energy in Spain
Windfarms are one of the most exciting modern developments. As a relatively new sector, wind power offers an opportunity to contributeto state-of-the-art technology while protecting the planet, so Hempelwas delighted to be selected to coat these gigantic structures for theNorth Sea’s Merkur Windfarm.
Jointly constructing the turbines’ transition pieces on behalf of main contractor GeoSea are Windar and Idesa, both part of the Daniel Alonso group. Idesa was entrusted with creating the tubular structures which link the generator and the base as it is one of the most respected companies in the world with regards to the design, production and supply of static and modular equipment, and one of its areas of expertise is to provide top quality steel foundations for offshore windfarms.
The trial
Merkur Offshore Wind Farm
The transition pieces are being constructed far from the North Sea in Spain’s Valliniello Quay. Each one of them will be 28 m tall and 14 m wide and weigh 260 tonnes. Getting them to their final destination will be no mean feat, and it will be one that locals will get used to seeing over the coming months as the bright yellow tubes travel vertically in a special Rolldock Sea boat along the Avilés River nine times this year. The plan is for the windfarm to be supplying energy to half a million homes each year by the end of 2019.
Hempel is always delighted to be involved in projects with this sort of scale and vision and, given the bitterly cold, corrosive conditions of the North Sea, it was essential the Merkur Windfarm was supplied with coatings it knew it could rely on. The Hempel paint system selected has been specially designed for cold climates and it uses around 160,000 litres of Hempadur Multi-Strength 45753, Hempadur Multi-Strength 45703 and Hempathane HS 55610. The first of those products, for example, is a self-priming, two-component, high build pure epoxy which cures to an abrasion and corrosion resistant coating, making it the ideal solution for the location.
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