Foundation sensor trial
UK-headquartered load measurement specialist Strainstall has been subcontracted by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) to install sensors, as part of their Structural and Environmental Monitoring (SEM) solution, on to a new ‘Suction Bucket Jacket’ foundation, which is currently being trialled at the Borkum Riffgrund 1 Offshore Wind Farm in Germany.
The innovative foundation, based on similar foundations which have used successfully within the oil and gas industry, have been designed to help cut the costs of electricity from offshore wind farms. The structure was successfully deployed in August 2014 by Dong Energy as part of its collaboration with the UK’s Carbon Trust Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA).
The tripod foundation structure has been equipped with 126 different sensors from the turbine tower down to the foundations, below the water line and also below the mudline, utilising a method of mechanical protection developed by NGI. The comprehensive SEM system was developed by NGI and the long-term monitoring scheme is claimed to be unique within the offshore wind industry in terms of underwater instrumentation.
By Jake Frith
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