This article was updated at 11:19 CET on 2 August.
Heerema Marine Contractors’ vessel Sleipnir has started installing the gravity-based foundations at the site of the 500 MW Fécamp offshore wind farm in France, according to an update Heerema posted via social media.
Yesterday morning (1 August) HAROPA – Port of Le Havre announced the first three gravity-based foundations for the Fécamp offshore wind farm set sail from Le Havre towards the project site on 29 July.
According to EDF Renouvelables, the installation of the first foundation was completed on 1 August.
A total of 71 foundations will gradually leave the Bougainville yard to reach their installation site.
According to earlier information on this part of the project, the gravity-based foundations were planned to be installed by Saipem 7000 . However, the vessel’s AIS data is still showing it to be working at the Seagreen 1 offshore wind project site in Scotland.
The fabrication of the foundations started in 2020, with the first unit loaded onto its transport barge last month.
Each foundation weighs 5,000 tonnes and measures 31 metres in diameter at its base. The height of the foundation, ranging from 48 to 54 metres, depends on where the unit will be installed. Water depths at the installation site range from 25 to 30 metres.
Bouygues Construction is responsible for the construction of the foundations while Boskalis will carry out scour protection and ballasting of the foundations after installation.
The Fécamp offshore wind farm will feature 71 Siemens Gamesa SWT-7.0-154 wind turbines.
The project is being jointly developed by Eolien Maritime France (EMF), a joint venture between the French company EDF Renouvelables; EIH S.à.rl, owned by Enbridge Inc. and CPP Investments; and wpd offshore.
Once fully commissioned next year, the offshore wind farm will produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 770,000 people, or 60 per cent of the inhabitants of Seine-Maritime.