Orsted is to use new recyclable material for monopile covers on its Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm in the UK.
The decision follows extensive testing in partnership with suppliers TME and CS Wind Offshore.
Orsted has now approved a recyclable tarpaulin material for monopile covers, which will prevent an average of 10 tonnes of landfill waste per offshore project.
Also known as TP covers, the monopile covers protect the foundation and cables of offshore wind turbines during construction.
Orsted said it had been determined to address the environmental challenge posed by these covers, which need to be of sufficient quality to shield monopiles from the elements.
First, it tested every option for industrial recycling of the material that is traditionally used for covers.
As none of the options worked, Orsted’s partner TME proposed a new recyclable material which has been tested and proved fit for use both by a physical outdoor endurance test at CS Wind Offshore’s facilities (pictured) and subsequent lab testing.
The material will be used for the first time during the construction of Hornsea 3, the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
Once construction has finished, they can be recycled, eliminating the use of new material.
Orsted’s head of construction sustainability Rasmus Uldahl Kjeldsen said: “At Orsted, we believe protecting our environment can go hand in hand with innovation and efficiency.
“This collaboration with TME and CS Wind Offshore shows that designing out waste from the beginning is possible and can be done without compromising quality or increasing cost.”
Hornsea 3 project director Jess Westcott added: “One of our ambitions on Hornsea 3 is to be the greenest offshore wind farm yet.
“Using monopile covers that can be recycled is another positive step on that sustainability journey.”
Hornsea 3 is located 160km off the Yorkshire coast.
When the wind farm comes online, Orsted’s Hornsea trio will have a total capacity of more than 5GW, making it the world’s largest operating offshore wind zone.