Dong Energy has confirmed plans to install 20 suction bucket foundations alongside 36 monopiles at the consented 448MW Borkum Riffgrund 2 wind farm in the German North Sea.
The Danish company said it made the decision following a successful pilot project using a suction bucket at Borkum Riffgrund 1.
The plan to install suction buckets at Borkum Riffgrund 2 was first reported exclusively in subscriber-only newsletter reNEWS earlier this year.
The uniform construction that Dong wants to deploy at Borkum Riffgrund 2 means soil conditions limit the company to using 20 suction buckets.
The three-legged units will feature 10-metre wide suction feet.
German fabrication yard Steelwind Nordenham will supply the 36 monopiles and transition pieces.
Borkum Riffgrund 2, which will be located 34km north of Borkum island, will consist of 56 MHI Vestas 8MW machines to be installed by Fred Olsen Windcarrier.
Offshore construction will start in 2018, with full commissioning due in the first half of 2019.
Image: suction bucket pilot at Borkum Riffgrund 1 (Dong Energy)
