Jan De Nul Group’s latest crane vessel Les Alizés has kicked off her maiden assignment by installing the first of 107 monopile foundations for the construction of Orsted’s 253MW Gode Wind 3 and 913MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 wind farms in Germany.
Delivered early 2023, Les Alizés arrived in the Dutch port of Eemshaven at the end of June, where the first monopiles were loaded before departing to the installation location in the German North Sea.
In total Les Alizés will transport and install 106 wind turbine monopile foundations and one offshore substation foundation, including associated topside for the wind farms in the German North Sea.
Both sites will use 11-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines.
The Borkum Riffgrund 3 more particularly will be located adjacent to Orsted’s existing offshore wind farms Borkum Riffgrund 1 and Borkum Riffgrund 2.
Gode Wind 3 will be close to Orsted’s Gode Wind 1 and 2.
Orsted will use monopiles without transition piece. Before installation, scour protection will be installed at all 107 locations.
Once completed, these wind farms will generate enough electricity to power approximately 1.2m German households every year.
Managing director for Orsted in Germany Jörg Kubitza said: “With the installation of the foundations for our two new projects this year, we are laying the ground work for additional, large-scale renewable energy at sea.
“And thus further establish offshore wind power as a pillar of the energy transition.
“I am pleased that we have now reached the next milestone.
“In addition to the required capacities that will have to be installed in the coming decades, our projects also exemplify how offshore wind power can be built out in a value-creating and competitive manner in Germany – if the right framework conditions are in place.”
Manager offshore renewables at Jan De Nul Group Peter De Pooter added: “This contract is an important milestone for us, as it is the maiden project for our new Next-Gen heavy lift vessel Les Alizés.
“We are looking forward to install and complete both wind farms in close collaboration with our client Orsted.
“Together with Voltaire’s first mission and other projects, we are proud to contribute to construct the global transition to renewable energy by installing these offshore wind turbines in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible.”