Foundation designer Seatower, that was awarded a contract delivering the world’s first CraneFree hybrid gravity base foundation earlier this year, confirmed the foundation will be loaded out from French port of Le Havre later this week.
The installation of the single 1800 tonne, mainly concrete structure at EDF Energies Nouvelles’ Fécamp project off Normandy will pave the way for a pioneering type of offshore wind foundations for future deep-water projects.
Seatower said the demonstration project will showcase several game-changing advantages to including cheaper manufacturing costs and option to install the foundations in rough weather conditions all year round.
Conventional towing vessels will be used to install the offshore wind foundation for the first time as an alternative to highly specialised crane-ships, which are typically scarce, expensive and weather-sensitive.
Weather-related delays are the biggest challenge when managing large offshore wind projects.
Long-standing Seatower partner MT Højgaard, which has installed more offshore wind foundations than any other marine contractor, will execute the tow, subsequent positioning and final deployment of the foundation.
“Our technology will ease and speed up the construction of offshore wind farms at a time when cutting costs and risks is necessary to help the sector move to the next level,” said Seatower CEO Petter Karal.