Cadeler installs first monopile foundation at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm
Cadeler has completed installation of the first fully commissioned monopile
foundation at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK, marking
a major construction milestone for the 2.9 GW project.
The installation is the first of 197 monopile foundations Cadeler will
transport and install as part of its transportation and installation (T&I)
scope for the project.
The latest milestone follows earlier
indications
that foundation installation activities had commenced at the Hornsea 3
site, with vessel activity tracked in the project area in recent weeks.
Once completed, Hornsea
3
is expected to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm by capacity,
capable of generating enough renewable electricity to power more than 3.3
million UK homes.
According to Cadeler, the project marks the first time the company has
undertaken the full T&I scope for offshore monopile foundations.
The monopile was installed by Cadeler’s A-class vessel Wind Ally, while
Wind
Orca carried
out the installation of the secondary steel. Commissioning activities were
completed using the service operation vessel ESVAGT FROUDE, operated by
ESVAGT.
Cadeler said the project demonstrates growing demand for specialist offshore
wind installation capability as turbine and foundation sizes continue to
increase across the sector.