Climate chamber for testing wind turbines

The Offshore Wind Infrastructure Application (OWI-Lab) is an initiative of four leading companies in the sector; 3E, GeoSea-Deme, ZF Wind Power and CG Power Belgium. But other companies, both large and small, can also use it for carrying out tests.

The lifetime of components such as gearboxes, transformers and generators weighing up to 150 tonnes can be tested by subjecting them to accelerated aging with rapid swings in temperature. In operation, most offshore windfarms must withstand temperatures from -20 to +40°C. In some regions such as the North of Finland and Norway temperatures can fall as low as -30°C. And in the case of onshore installations in Mongolia it can reach -40°C.

The test results will be used to carry out quality control and to acquire new knowledge that will be applied in innovative projects but the main aim of testing is always to eliminate construction defects at an early stage.

The tests are coordinated by Sirris, a collective centre for Belgian high-tech industry. The facility can also call upon the academic world, with the Brussels Free University in the lead.
Belgian boasts some of the world’s best players in the offshore wind sector, and the OWI-Lab will help to consolidate this technological lead.

The OWI-Lab is located on the DP World Breakbulk site at Quay 482, making it easier to load and unload heavy components for wind turbines. In the meantime DP World Breakbulk has decided to sell off its breakbulk and conventional cargo handling activities to Zuidnatie, which will also take over the service activities for the wind turbines.