GeoSea’s offshore wind installation vessel Innovation has installed the second batch of monopile foundations at the Horns Rev 3 site and returned to Port of Esbjerg today to pick up the next four, a spokesperson from Vattenfall confirmed to Offshore WIND .
The first four monopiles that were installed at the site were loaded aboard Innovation in Holland, while the vessel sailed out with the further four from the Port of Esbjerg on 20 October and installed them in three days. Soon, the wind farm will have twelve monopiles placed at their respective locations.
Each of the 40-50 metres long steel monopiles, with a diameter of 6.5 metres, are being driven about 30 metres down into the seabed.
The foundations, manufactured by EEW SPC, will support 49 MHI Vestas 8.3MW wind turbines, which will meet the annual power consumption of some 425,000 Danish households.
According to Michael Simmelsgaard, Country Manager for Vattenfall in Denmark, foundations play a crucial role and are designed to exactly suit the conditions on the seabed.
The installation of wind turbines is scheduled to strat in the summer of 2018 and will be carried out by A2SEA’s vessel Sea Installer.
Horns Rev 3 is planned to be put into full operation in 2020.
Offshore WIND Staff