The offshore wind industry seems to be constantly innovating, and Danish company Ørsted recently developed a method of installing turbine foundations that could revolutionize the industry. According to Renewable Energy Magazine, the new method is more efficient and cost-effective, and it removes the need for certain procedures currently taken to protect marine life.
The traditional method of installing monopile foundations involves driving piles into the seabed, but measures are taken to protect marine life, including protection against loud noises that can disrupt the ability of certain species to communicate.
One common method of reducing noise is to use exactly what it sounds like: bubble curtains: perforated hoses are laid on the seabed surrounding the construction site and air is pumped through the hoses, creating a veil of bubbles that acts as a barrier to slow and disperse sound waves.
However, Orsted's new technology eliminates the need for bubble curtains and their associated costs.
Ørsted has successfully tested the new technology on three monopile foundations for Germany's new offshore wind farm Gode Wind 3 in the North Sea. The method involves fitting the monopiles with jetting technology to reduce resistance on the seabed and allow the foundations to sink easier. Noise levels were found to be reduced by 99%.
“This new technology has the potential to revolutionize the way offshore wind is constructed,” said Patrick Harnett, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Ørsted. “Once industrialized, it will not only be cheaper, faster, and much quieter without additional mitigation than other monopile installation techniques, but it could also enable next-generation foundations to be lighter because they do not need to be designed around traditional installation processes.”
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Not only does this technology have obvious benefits for the surrounding marine life, but it could also benefit those of us who live on land.
The company is also considering using heavy-lift drones to deliver cargo to each turbine.
If the technology proves more efficient and cost-effective on an industrial scale, it could lead to the construction of more offshore wind farms, leading to cleaner, cheaper energy.
This reduces reliance on polluting energy sources that contribute to global warming and also reduces the negative impacts on human health.
This is just one of many pieces of good news to come from the region as we move towards a greener planet.
A Swedish company recently announced plans for a wind farm with 147 giant floating turbines that could generate half the electricity for Stockholm, and the developer of the world's largest offshore wind farm, off the coast of Yorkshire, England, has submitted plans for an expansion.
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