March 2024

RES recently enhanced its global asset management and operations and maintenance (O&M) services for customers through the appointment of Juan Gutiérrez as CEO of its global services business unit. 

Gutiérrez brings a wealth of experience and expertise to RES, having spent 19 years in the energy industry including 12 years at a global wind-turbine manufacturer. With a proven track record of leadership and a deep understanding of what customers need to maximize the performance and returns from renewable assets, Gutiérrez is well-positioned to drive RES’ continued growth in this area.

“We are thrilled to welcome Juan to RES,” said Eduardo Medina, RES CEO. “His experience of leading complex, international projects with a focus on operational excellence will be invaluable as we continue to develop and grow our services business to meet the evolving needs of our customers across the world.”               

“It’s an exciting time to be taking up this position as RES continues to expand its global footprint and enhance its service offerings as a leader in this fast-growing industry,” Gutiérrez said. “I look forward to building on that and working with our customers to provide the solutions they need.” 

The news follows the announcement of RES’ planned acquisition of Ingeteam’s Service division, which, upon completion, will make RES the largest renewable energy support services provider in the world with circa 41 GW of assets under management across 23 countries. Gutiérrez will join RES’ Group Executive team, reporting to Global CEO Eduardo Medina and taking up the appointment May 1, 2024. 

More info www.res-group.com

North Star has secured a contract with energy utility giant EnBW to deliver a new hybrid-electric service operations vessel (SOV) on a decade-long minimum charter to service the He Dreiht wind farm off the coast of Germany.

The agreement marks the firm’s first offshore wind win outside the U.K. market, a milestone step in its European growth strategy to add 40 new SOVs to its fleet by 2040.

The newbuild is of VARD 407 design that has been tailored to meet EnBW’s specific requirements. To drive high performance and efficiencies, the high-specification vessel includes Voith Schneider eVSP propulsion and is prepared for the use of methanol as a fuel.

The ship is also equipped with a height adjustable motion compensated gangway and 3D compensated crane. In addition, it supports decarbonization, including North Star’s Decision Support system.

Scheduled to commence long-term charter with EnBW at the end of next year, the walk-to-work vessel will provide accommodation in field for up to 34 wind technicians as they maintain the development’s 64 wind turbines, about 90 kilometers northwest of the island of Borkum and 110 kilometers west of Helgoland. The SOV will also act as a logistics hub and warehouse.

“He Dreiht is currently one of Europe’s largest energy-transition projects and once operational, will supply green power to 1.1 million homes,” said Caspar Blum, North Star European renewables lead. “Following the highly regulated EU tendering process, we are thrilled to be selected by EnBW as part of their maintenance solution to ensure once completed, the wind farm remains consistently operational and generating renewable electricity. With high operability a key component to providing fast, safe and efficient personnel transfers, we worked closely with EnBW and our partners VARD to develop a robust and superior SOV to mitigate sea state and wave height challenges.”

“This vessel will be the backbone of our service and logistics operations at our He Dreiht wind farm,” said Michael Splett, EnBW’s global head of O&M Wind Offshore. “Working with North Star, we were able to specify its setup to ideally meet the requirements of our operations teams. Its innovative, methanol-based propulsion system helps us to further decarbonize our industry’s operations. This perfectly aligns with EnBW’s strategy of continually optimizing the operation of its offshore wind farms through the deployment of new technologies in the field.”

This contract for North Star marks the seventh newbuild SOV for the company since entering the renewables market in 2021.

More info www.northstarshipping.co.uk

GEV Wind Power, a turbine blade repair and maintenance company, has further bolstered its services with the launch of a division called Blade Team.

Dedicated to the U.K. and Ireland onshore market, Blade Team will bring additional maintenance support to the region by providing in field-deployed rotor blade maintenance, using powered access platforms and associated services. Five permanent roles have been created as a result of the new division.

Stephen Robinson has been appointed Head of Operations at Blade Team and will lead the management team. Robinson, who was previously a director of U.K.-based Blade Wind Services, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge within the industry.

“I’m excited to be partnering with a global blade maintenance provider, supported by such an experienced team and comprehensive infrastructure,” Robinson said. “The integration of Blade Team’s expertise with GEV’s extensive industry knowledge and operational excellence, creates a dynamic and appealing collaboration.”

“As experts in rotor blade maintenance, it is important for us to identify the optimal method for executing routine and unplanned maintenance that best addresses the window to complete blade works,” said David Fletcher, GEV Group’s CEO. “The launch of Blade Team underlines this and will further enhance GEV’s service offerings.”

GEV has evolved as a leader in blade maintenance and repair through growth and acquisitions that build on its blade competence capabilities and in-house expertise across complex repairs, upgrades and maintenance combined with specialist blade advisory, risk and technology solutions.

Most recently, the Group acquired Rigcom Group, Australia’s largest domestic independent service provider (ISP), which specializes in field deployed rotor blade maintenance and a range of height safety services.

GEV has more than 1,000 technicians worldwide, believed to be the world’s largest blade-focused talent pool, and supports more than 200 projects across Europe, North America, and Asia with a network of operational bases in the U.K., U.S., Australia, Poland, and Denmark.

In the Group’s 2023 financial year alone, 1,122 blades were maintained by GEV, enough to annually power 320,000 homes and save more than 1million tons of CO2 emissions.

More info www.Bladeteam.co.uk