COWI has been providing assistance with geotechnical interpretation and load definition to BAM Infraconsult, which is in charge of the design of gravity base foundations, to be used on Blyth Offshore Demonstrator offshore wind project.
The foundation design will utilise ‘self-installing’ technology, which has been developed by two BAM companies, BAM Nuttall Ltd and BAM Infra bv.
COWI has been involved in the project from tender stage to the recent contract award , when BAM has been hired by EDF to design, fabricate and install five full-size gravity base foundations. The foundations will support wind turbines of total 41.5MW in capacity, off the Northumberland coast in the North East of England.
The project is due for completion during summer 2017 with the installation of the gravity base foundations of 30m diameter and 60m height in approximately 40m water depth. The composite concrete and steel foundations weigh approximately 13,000t in situ on the seabed.