Saipem 7000 to Begin Installing Seagreen OWF Foundations

The installation of wind turbine foundations on the Seagreen offshore wind farm in Scotland is scheduled to begin on or around 1 October, according to the latest update on the project’s offshore works.

The three-legged suction caisson foundations will be towed from the Port of Nigg, Cromarty Firth, to the project site located 27 kilometres off the Scottish coast near Angus, where they will be installed by the heavy lift vessel Saipem 7000.

Earlier this year, Saipem ordered marine pumping systems from Framo, part of Alfa Laval, to use them for the installation of the suction bucket foundations.

Throughout the work at the offshore project site, the tug Nicobar will be assisting Saipem 7000 with barge mooring operations, while grouting operations will be taking place from the vessel EDT Hercules.

Seagreen will comprise 114 foundations which will support just as many Vestas V164-10 MW turbines.

The foundations have been manufactured by Lamprell, COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries and Jutal Offshore Oil Services, and will be installed by Seaway 7 as the main contractor for the work.

The first jacket superstructures arrived at the Port of Nigg in August, kickstarting the offshore construction campaign.

The Seagreen 1 offshore wind farm is owned by SSE Renewables and TotalEnergies, with SSE leading the development and construction, as well as the operation, once the wind farm is completed.

When fully built in 2023, the 1,075 MW project will be Scotland’s largest, and the world’s deepest, fixed-bottom offshore wind farm.