The EOWDC in Aberdeen Bay is the first offshore wind project to deploy the foundations at commercial scale with each of the 11 steel jacket foundations weighing in at a weight almost equivalent to ten Boeing 747s.
One of the world’s largest and most versatile floating cranes - the 25,000 tonne Asian Hercules III - lifted and installed the first 1,800 tonne structure on Sunday, March 25.
Gunnar Groebler, Vattenfall’s senior vice president of Business Area Wind, said, “The EOWDC is a cornerstone of Vattenfall’s and the industry’s drive for innovative cost reduction in offshore wind.”
Adam Ezzamel, EOWDC project director for Vattenfall, added, “The first installation of the suction bucket foundations is a major accomplishment for the EOWDC project team, our contractors and the offshore wind industry.
“By enabling faster and smarter installation, the technology will drive down offshore wind costs considerably, provide a further foundation option at challenging sites, whilst also allowing an easier and complete decommissioning. These foundations are the first visible structures offshore for the EOWDC which we hope will go some way to help establish the Northeast as a centre for offshore wind innovation.”
As Scotland’s largest offshore test and demonstration facility, the 92.4MW EOWDC will trial next generation technology and, once constructed, will generate the equivalent of 70% of Aberdeen's domestic electricity demand and annually displace an estimated 132,977 tonnes of CO2.
Photo: The 25,000 tonne Asian Hercules III installs the first suction bucket jacket foundation for the EOWDC, off Aberdeen Bay. (Vattenfall)
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