Gemini: First Foundation Installed

Northland Power has installed the first monopile at the 600MW Gemini wind farm offshore Dutch coast.

The job was completed by Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel, Aeolus, which is install a total of 150 foundations together with Pacific Osprey of Swire Blue Ocean.

Located 85 kilometers off the coast of Groningen the project will feature Siemens 4MW turbines.

“The installation of the first monopile is a special moment for everyone involved in the project,” said Matthias Haag, CEO of Gemini. “The installation constitutes a milestone in the construction phase and has been realized as planned through close collaboration with our project partners.”

Pieter van Oord, CEO, added: “We are pleased that after fourteen months following the financial close, the first Gemini monopiles are being hammered into the seabed, exactly as per the original planning.”

Owned by Northland Power (60%), Siemens (20%), Van Oord (10%) and HVC (10%), the park is expected to be fully operational by 2017 and capable of generating clean energy for 1.5 million people in the Netherlands.