Ørsted (
www.orsted.com) has started constructing its first offshore wind farm in the Netherlands by installing the first foundations for the 752MW Borssele 1 & 2 offshore wind farm, marking an important milestone for the project.
Henrik Egholm, EPC director for Borssele 1 & 2, said: “It is great that the installation has started now, according to plan.
"We are well on track with the construction of the wind farm, which will be operational by the end of this year.”
Jan Wind, senior project manager for Borssele 1 & 2, added: “The first monopile installed was also the heaviest and tallest on the wind farm. Weighing 1,188 tonnes and measuring 76m long, the diameter at the bottom of the foundation is 8.5m.”
Steven Engels, general manager for the Netherlands, said: “Borssele 1 & 2 will be our first offshore wind farm in the Netherlands and is an important step in the Dutch government’s ambitious shift towards green energy.
"Once completed, Borssele 1 & 2 will be the largest offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, able to supply renewable power to around a million Dutch households.”
Borssele 1 & 2 is located 22km off the coast of the Dutch province of Zeeland.
At water depths ranging from 14 to 39.7m, a total of 94 monopile foundations will be installed for the wind farm.
Starting in April, the 94 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW wind turbines will be installed.
The monopiles and transition pieces for Borssele 1 & 2 have been fabricated by Sif, EEW SPC, EEW OSB and Bladt Industries.
All foundations will be installed by DEME.