SPT Offshore has unveiled a new foundation concept for offshore wind turbines.
The Dutch company’s design consists of a mono tubular, a star-shaped transition piece and three or four suction piles on the seabed.
It claimed the new approach could reduce costs by 30% compared with standard jacket foundations.
The suction piles can be installed quickly – in around three hours – using a “virtually noise free technique” that is not hindered by noise restrictions and is safe for sea mammals.
SPT added that the piles do not cause any shocks to the foundation and so “single piece installation” up to the work platform in possible.
The transition piece can be steel or concrete, but the company has yet to determine which material performs best.
SPT is carrying out further design work and aims to produce a demonstration structure in the next 12 months.
Image: SPT Offshore
SPT unveils hybrid foundation
Dutch outfit's mono tubular-suction pile design to cut costs by 30%
By EBS