Foundation Installation to Begin at 342 MW German Offshore Wind Farm

DEME is currently mobilising its jack-up vessel Neptune as well as the Blue Tern jack-up, chartered from Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, for monopile installation that is set commence at the Kaskasi offshore wind farm site in Germany.

The vessels will also be joined by Sea Challenger which will install the project’s transition pieces, according to a social media post from DEME showing its Offshore Base in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, where four vessels are getting ready for two offshore wind projects, the fourth being Sea Installer that is gearing up for work in France.

The monopile foundations for the 342 MW Kaskasi offshore wind farm are being delivered by Bladt Industries, which was contracted to manufacture 39 monopiles, 38 transition pieces for the turbines, one specially designed transition piece for the offshore substation, and the substation topside.

According to information from the developer RWE from last year, the construction team will employ an innovative vibratory pile driving technique. The new method for installing foundations is said to have the potential to significantly reduce underwater noise emissions and installation times.

Three of the wind farm’s monopiles will also be the so-called ‘collared monopiles’, designed based on an RWE patent, which involves installing collars around monopile foundations at seabed level. DEME is responsible of installing the collars on these three monopiles.

According to the developer, the new foundation technology will provide additional support for lateral loading, increase the bearing capacity, and improve the structural integrity of the entire foundation, especially in difficult ground.

Kaskasi offshore wind farm, also known as Kaskasi II, is located in the German North Sea, 35 kilometres north of the island of Heligoland.

The 342 MW wind farm will comprise 38 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, each with an output of up to 9 MW, which are expected to be put into operation by the end of this year.

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