Offshore technology company Fistuca has tested a new type of pile driver for monopiles off the Dutch coast in a demonstration programme funded by the Carbon Trust-led Offshore Wind Accelerator.
The offshore test was carried out on 13 August using Van Oord’s offshore heavy lift installation vessel, Svanen, off the coast of the Netherlands.
The Blue Pilot project aims to reduce costs and underwater noise during offshore wind farm construction by using Fistuca’s BLUE 25M hammer, which incorporates a large water tank to provide a more energetic, but quieter blow.
The hammer is also designed to reduce fatigue damage during installation on the pile by up to 90%, which could enable secondary steel to be pre-welded to the monopile before installation instead of transition pieces.
The project featured a 60-metre long monopile custom made by Sif.
The Carbon Trust said data was recorded on both acceleration levels on the monopile as well as underwater noise levels in the surrounding area which will now be analysed and interpreted to validate studies that were undertaken prior to the test.
Carbon Trust project manager Michael Stephenson said: “The test is another step forward in the Blue Pilot project and we are excited to see the results of the offshore measurements and help further bring this essential innovation to the offshore wind market.”
Image: The Carbon Trust
Fistuca puts Dutch hammer down
By EBS