DEVELOPER of advanced industrial precincts, Energy Estate, has been appointed 'sole advisor' to bring offshore wind installation, FEEDERDOCK, into the Australia and New Zealand markets.
The offshore wind technology is being brought in to address installation bottlenecks and accelerate offshore wind deployment in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
The design, approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), is capable of installing 25 megawatt turbines and 2800-tonne foundations, to improve access through constrained ports and reduce infrastructure costs.
Energy Estate commercial director Mark Richards said a successful offshore wind industry "needs an ecosystem to thrive, not just projects".
"FEEDERDOCK is our answer to the availability of installation vessels challenge, giving Australian projects a
dedicated, future‑proof solution for the region, that is not hostage to international vessel scarcity anticipated from
2030 onwards," Mr Richards said.
Engagement with Australian shipyards and maritime industry participants is underway to identify roles in construction, outfitting, operation and maintenance. This is supported by a multi‑port strategy to diversify options for the offshore wind industry.
FEEDERDOCK, a marine logistics solution for offshore wind developed by ONP Management and Renewable Resources International, is poised to transform the way largescale wind farms are built globally, unlocking productivity gains and cost reductions.
Designed to address the future technical challenges of offshore wind development, FEEDERDOCK introduces fixed-to-fixed installation methodology using a heavy lift jack-up vessel supported by a fleet of feeder vessels.
The approach is described as more efficient when compared with conventional methods and is expected to increase productivity by between 30% and 50%.
ONP Management project director for FEEDERDOCK Frank Witte said the technology had been developed "precisely for markets like Australia".
"It removes the need to rely on rare deepwater, heavy lift ports and gives developers a bankable pathway to deliver their first projects," Mr Witte said.
Renewable Resources International managing partner Andy Geissbuehler said offshore wind is scaling up in every major region.
"Global analysis is clear—from the end of this decade, developers will be competing for a limited pool of suitable
offshore wind installation vessels," he said.
"FEEDERDOCK is designed to be part of the solution— a highly efficient installation platform that can work alongside
the heavy‑lift jack‑up fleet and significantly increase the volume of turbines installed per season."