Certex UK wins wind farm inspection contract

Doncaster, UK-based Certex UK has won a major three-year contract for inspection and maintenance of over 150 turbine generators across two wind farms.

Certex was awarded the contract by Equinor, operator of the Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farms off the Norfolk coast.

The full scope of work covers the statutory inspection and maintenance of all transmission and generation assets across both wind farms works and will include all turbine mounted safety equipment (TMSE) and personal service lifts, in addition to a fleet of loader and davit cranes. Certex will supply all lifting equipment, accessories, and consumables to Equinor, while looking after the balance of plant (BOP) base and service operation vessel (SOV) equipment.

The company will provide permanent site rotations, 365-days-a-year, under the supervision of Terry Hoenes, divisional manager of renewables, at Certex.

“Each rotation will be servicing each windfarm,” says Hoenes. “We have had the contract for similar works on the Dudgeon farm for the last five years, but this new contract combines the sites, in line with Equinor’s strategy to operate both farms from their base in Great Yarmouth. Offshore teams from both sites will utilise the Vessel resources to maximise time in the field and reduce emissions from the overall operation.”

Certex UK is part of the Lifting Solutions Group, one of six divisions within the Axel Johnson International business. Certex provides products and services to various stakeholders within the wind energy sector, including companies that manage either the installation of new wind farms, or the service and maintenance of existing sites.

Lifting Solutions has 22 companies with over 100 locations worldwide, with the renewable energy sector largely being served to date from the UK and Denmark. However, the newly-launched Global Certex Renewables Division incorporates additional companies in Germany, Spain, France, Russia, China, and the United States, which has recently pivoted towards wind energy.