Ørsted tests quieter, more efficient offshore turbine installation tech

Ørsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED) has developed a new, lower-noise method for installing monopile foundations that the Danish developer said could be a game changer for offshore wind.

The approach uses patented jetting technology attached to the monopile. This reduces the resistance of the surrounding sandy soil, enabling the foundation to sink into the seabed, the company explains.

The new method can replace conventional installation techniques such as pile driving.

Ørsted has tested the technology on three monopile foundations at the 253-MW Gode Wind 3 offshore wind project in Germany, which is due to begin commercial operation later in 2024. According to the company, it reduced underwater noise levels by 34 decibels compared to the common installation method, and without additional mitigation, or by over 99%, to a level slightly above the ambient noise in the German Bight in the North Sea.

Commenting on the new technology, Ørsted chief operating officer Patrick Harnett said: “Once industrialised, it could not only be cheaper, faster, and far quieter – without additional mitigation – than any other monopile installation technology, it also has the potential to make next-generation foundations lighter as they won’t need to be designed for conventional installation process.”

Ørsted is now exploring introducing the technology into future projects, which involves assessing its feasibility on more complex ground conditions than the pure sand conditions at the Gode Wind 3. More regulatory approvals will also be required before the technology can be used in other markets.

The test installations were performed together with Jan De Nul Group and its vessel Les Alizes as well as contractor Aarsleff.

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