Page 22 - Industrial Plant 2020

underwater where the use of divers would be risky or owned a 13.5% stake in the French company Sabella
impossible. Saipem can fabricate large offshore srl since the latter was founded in 2008 by a consortium
facilities as well as sophisticated subsea components of small and medium industrial enterprises. Sabella is
in its own yards located in 5 continents. Finally, Saipem one the pioneers of the development of tidal stream
can take on full responsibility for operations by acting device and, indeed, designs production units of
as the single point of contact between subcontractors, electricity from marine currents. In the very year of its
marine warranty surveyors and clients. Saipem’s role foundation, Sabella installed the first tidal turbine in
as an EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction France. The company was awarded several prizes for
and Installation) contractor, built on the long-established the D10 1MW power turbine project. The D10 is
experience in the offshore Oil&Gas sector, can therefore currently the only turbine so far capable of injecting its
also be implemented on ocean energy projects. This produced energy into the French national power grid
means that Saipem can fabricate or supervise (Ushant). The turbine has a dry weight of 400 mT, a
construction of the facilities, perform the required speed ranging from 5 to 15 rotations per minute and a
engineering tasks, oversee and manage project rated power output of 1MW with a current speed of 4.0
execution, and maintain communications with the m/s. Further developments will see an increase in the
technology developer, the marine warranty surveyors hydroturbine diameter above the 10 meters of the D10,
and other subcontractors. with a corresponding increase in power production.
The D12 and D16 are currently being studied and
Saipem can be the single point of future plans aim to reach a diameter of 20m with the
contact for clients interested in D20.
developing ocean energy projects
Some of the key advantages of the technology vis-à-
This approach enables the technology developers to vis their competitors are:
focus on their machines while at the same time taking • A simple and robust hydroturbine, with fixed
advantage of Saipem’s engineering support to optimize symmetrical blades and no yaw drive
several functioning aspects of their devices. Saipem • Reliability, with a direct drive synchronous
can provide know-how in relation to several topics, like generator with permanent magnets, avoiding any
mooring analysis, dynamic analysis, fabrication, wearing of parts
structures and cable installation; additional services of • Simple maintenance, with a modular architecture
interest to small size companies, start-ups and spin- by means of which only upper part of the device
offs include project management, financial advice, risk (nacelle and rotor) can be retrieved
analysis and more. While Saipem does not yet own • Efficient, with an inboard conversion/
ocean energy proprietary technologies, the newly transformation system that facilitates the
created XSIGHT division, through the dedicated mutualisation and transport of the electricity
Renewables & Green Technologies product line, is production of several turbines through a single
continuously scouting the market for the most export cable
promising and advanced energy converters. • Long-standing experience gained through many
Saipem has so far been involved with three technology years of operations
providers in particular, namely, Sabella, Wello and
SeaPower, whose devices can be offered to our energy The aim of Sabella is to provide renewable and
company clients as a new type of service with the predictable energy production to remote networks
backing of Saipem. Some initiatives are presented here around the world, such as islands or other off-grid
below. locations. Sabella aims to replicate the energetic
proven model built for Ushant as a sustainable socio-
economic alternative to expensive and polluting diesel
Sabella groups.
Saipem, through its affiliate Sofresid Engineering, has
Sabella installed the first tidal turbine
Sabella’s Hydroturbines Power [kW] connected to the France grid
Speed D10 D16 D20
2.5 250 640 1,000 Saipem has provided Sabella with significant support
related to installation of the turbine and the electrical
3.0 440 1,120 1,750
cable, as well as commercial promotion for international
3.5 690 1,760 2,750 clients. In addition, services include engineering aimed

4.0 1,000 2,560 4,000 at improving the device’s foundation, optimization of
the grid connection, and much more.

IndustrIal Plants - May 2020
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