UK: Gravity Base Foundations to Reduce Environmental Impact

Future offshore wind turbines should use gravity foundations instead of foundations which are required to be hammered into the ground, said The Concrete Centre (TCC) according to New Civil Engineer news portal.

Due to the significant environmental impact of piling operations, Andrew Minson, executive director of TCC, calls for a wider use of gravity base foundations.

A new report entitled ”A Review of Marine Environmental Considerations Associated with Concrete Gravity Base Foundations“, finds that pile hammering can disturb mammals, cause damage or even death.

Even though installation of gravity base foundations requires seabed preparation, Minson said that evidence show that dredging work causes considerably less noise and disturbance in comparison to pile driving.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, September 06, 2013; Image: Costain