Block Island eyes January repair

Source: By Renewable Energy News • Posted: Thursday, January 5, 2017

Deepwater Wind expects technicians will start repairs in about a week on a damaged GE turbine at the 30MW Block Island offshore wind farm in Rhode Island.

“While we are waiting for the repair work to begin in early January, we are now operating the turbine and expect to do so until the repairs start,” Deepwater spokewoman Meaghan Wims told reNEWS.

Twenty-six magnets were scratched by a drill bit that was left in the air gap of the generator during manufacturing in France.

GE has hired the lift boat Lacie Eymard to serve as accommodation for the technicians and to provide a safe work platform.

Deepwater expects it will take about 45 days to replace the magnets in the Haliade 150 6MW turbine. The nacelle does not need to be removed.

The five-turbine project, the first offshore wind farm in North America, started commercial operation earlier this month.