Danish energy company Ørsted has piloted a new technology at the Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm in Germany, which could change offshore wind monopile installation.
The new jetting technique significantly reduces underwater noise, offering a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for installing wind turbine foundations.
The patented jetting technology was tested on three monopiles at the 242MW Gode Wind 3 site.
The technology allows the monopile to sink into the seabed with less resistance from the surrounding soil, reducing the need for traditional pile driving methods known to produce high levels of underwater noise.
The technology reduced noise levels by 34 decibels compared to conventional methods.
This translates to a more than 99% decrease, achieving levels only slightly above the ambient noise of the North Sea's German Bight.
This is a significant step forward in protecting marine life during construction.
Ørsted has already installed 11MW turbines on the newly placed foundations, with Gode Wind 3 due to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2024.
The successful pilot marks the first instance of full-size monopile foundations being installed using jetting technology.
The project was a collaborative effort with Jan De Nul Group, which provided the installation vessel Les Alizés, and contractor Aarsleff in a key role.
Ørsted is now exploring how to integrate the new technology into future projects even in more challenging ground conditions.
Before it can be adopted globally, Ørsted requires regulatory approvals.
Ørsted executive vice-president and chief operating officer Patrick Harnett stated: “This new technology is a potential game changer for how we build offshore wind. Once industrialised, it could not only be cheaper, faster and far quieter – without additional mitigation – than any other monopile installation technology, it also has the potential to make next-generation foundations lighter as they won’t need to be designed for conventional installation process.”
In Jun 2024 Ørsted completed the construction of the 518 MW Helena Energy Center, a combined wind and solar energy project located in Bee County, Texas.
