Novel Wedge Connection Passes Offshore Test

Heerema Marine Contractors and C1 Connections have tested the C1 Wedge Connection offshore that can be used for offshore wind turbines.

The partners said that the conventional bolted L-flange connections are reaching their capacity limits and are complex to design, install, and maintain and this is where their technology is supposed to make a difference.

The technology can be used in offshore and onshore wind turbines, both in turbine towers and foundations.

During the offshore test, C1 Connections and Heerema Marine Connections demonstrated that the C1 Wedge Connection enables a safe disconnection of the tower from a grillage on a barge, the companies said.

The alignment and quick connection of the tower was performed without any personnel below the suspended load. The C1 Wedge Connection features pre-installed fasteners, and only lightweight tools are needed to finalise the connection, according to the joint press release.

The installation of the tower on board the crane vessel, Thialf, was performed as part of the preparations for the Arcadis Ost project, for which Heerema will install 27 wind turbines for the Belgian developer Parkwind.

Located northeast of the Island of Rügen in the German sector of the Baltic Sea, the 257 MW Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm is scheduled to be fully operational in 2023.

The development of the C1 Wedge Connection started in early 2017 in close collaboration with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). From the offset, the technology received support from the Dutch Government Agency (RVO), with several industry partners contribution to its further optimisation.

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