Dutch offshore wind foundation manufacturer Sif Group is set to deploy the first prototype of its Skybox solution for TP-less monopiles for offshore testing this autumn.
The company has already completed the proof-of-concept process for Skybox and will now test and demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing the Skybox using slip-joint technology.
The first demonstrator, called Skybox Lite, will be put to a test at the end of September / beginning of October in order to acquire measurement data from the slip-joint connection between the concrete access platform and the steel cone using a polyurethane sleeve as an intermediate.
After the first prototype is tested, Sif will deploy an upscaled version – Skybox Full – to show its mettle offshore in 2022/2023.
The testing of the full-scale prototype will be focused on the installation tools including the hinged boat landing and the decommissioning tooling.
Skybox Full testing is the last step towards the A-level DNV-GL certificate, expected to be obtained in 2023, before serial production readiness for commercial deployment in 2024.