With the completion of the 100th monopile, the Sofia offshore wind farm Sofia offshore wind farm offshore wind farm takes a decisive step towards consolidating its position as one of the largest offshore wind energy projects in the United Kingdom. This infrastructure, located almost 200 kilometers off the British northeast coast, will add 1.4 GW of installed capacity sufficient to supply 1.2 million homes with clean electricity.
A monopile installation with high precision
Likewise, after 14 months of intense activity, Van Oord completed the installation of the foundations, which represent a crucial step forward in the construction phase. The “Aeolus” vessel, specially adapted with a 1,650-ton crane, played a key role in the operations, enabling the handling of large monopiles with extreme precision. Each of these steel cylinders forms the basis of the Siemens Gamesa turbines. Siemens Gamesa turbines turbines, some of which are equipped with recyclable blades. recyclable blades.
Also noteworthy is the use of a bubble curtain noise reduction system in 34 foundations, an innovative technology in the United Kingdom that protects marine species during piling operations in the Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation.
Optimized design and key logistics
Finally, logistics strategy has been another key factor. The Port of Tyne, chosen as a hub for operations and component storage, has positioned itself as a strategic hub for future offshore developments in the northeast region. The foundations installed are of optimized design, which enabled a significant reduction in steel tonnage, improving the overall sustainability of the project.
With the foundations in place, Van Oord is now moving ahead with the installation of 360 kilometers of installation of 360 kilometers of array cablesThe infrastructure that will allow the turbines to be interconnected. This phase is expected to be completed before the end of the year, bringing the Sofia park closer to full operation and making a significant contribution to the UK’s energy transition goals. energy transition goals of the United Kingdom..
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Source and photo: RWE
