Without the need for costly steel components, special purpose vessels or offshore cranes, the successful installation of Seatower’s gravity base foundation at Fécamp on 9th February demonstrates how new foundation concepts are changing the face of the offshore wind industry.
The Seatower Cranefree Gravity® foundation has been installed approximately 15km off the French coast in the British channel, at water depths of 30m, by MT Højgaard. Two tug boats were used to tow the hollow Seatower foundation into position, at which point the foundation was deployed by allowing seawater to flow into the foundation causing it to sink to the seabed and fix itself there with its own weight.
Petter Karal, CEO and co-founder of Seatower: “We are pleased that both the manufacturing schedule and installation of the first Seatower went according to plans. This type of foundation is perfect for larger turbines and we have now demonstrated that installation can happen also during winter time and in harsh offshore conditions, which is one of many advantages that will reduce the cost of offshore wind.”
Petter Karral will be presenting experience of GBS foundations at the Offshore Wind Structures conference 14-15th April in London, alongside other experts in innovative foundation types such as XXL monopiles, jackets, and floating concepts.
The event will bring together the leading conceptors of new typologies in order to allow developers and suppliers to understand the options available to them, and the logistical and financial implications.
Karral is confident that the Seatower Cranefree Gravity® foundation has significant benefits over other concepts:
“Our foundations are less costly than conventional foundations such as steel monopiles. Seatower Cranefree Gravity® are quicker to install and less risky, as the installation involves fewer personnel in the offshore operations. Also Seatower Cranefree Gravity® is environmentally friendly. There is no noise from pile hammering or drilling during the installation process, since the hollow foundation is simply filled with sand to anchor it safely to the seabed,” explains Petter Karal.
For more information about the exciting sessions and speakers attending Offshore Wind Structures, contact Amy at amy@windenergyupdate.com
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