RWE to Shield Thor Monopiles with Reusable Covers

February 14, 2025, by Adnan Memija

RWE has received 36 of the 72 reusable hard covers from Circular Covers, a Netherlands-based supplier, which will be used to protect the foundations at the 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm in Denmark.

The covers, which arrived at Thyboron Port, Denmark, serve as a temporary solution for shielding against seawater, rain, and bird droppings until the turbine towers are installed on the monopiles.

Foundation installation work, including the deployment of the reusable covers, is planned to start this spring, with turbine installation scheduled for 2026.

The covers are usually disposed of after use because they were tailor-made to a specific offshore project. However, the units from Circular Covers are made from glass fibre-reinforced composite panels bolted to a steel frame, and the design allows the panels to be adjusted and reused for different sizes of monopiles, said RWE.

It is expected that the individual panels of the covers could last 15 years and even more, depending on how often the diameter needs to be adjusted.

“At RWE, we are the first in the world to install covers from Circular Covers B.V. that have previously been used on the high seas. These covers reduce waste and increase circularity whilst the initiative exemplifies our dedication to sustainable practices. In addition, our Thor wind farm will pilot turbine towers made from CO₂-reduced steel and use recyclable wind turbine blades,” said Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind.

According to the offshore wind developer, RWE is the first company in the world to reuse these covers and give them a new lease of life. After their deployment at the 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm, the adjustable covers will be utilised on other projects.

Located 22 kilometres off the west coast of Jutland in the Danish North Sea, the project will comprise 72 wind turbines, half of which will feature CO2-reduced steel towers, with 40 units utilising recyclable rotor blades.