AEOLUS

Our client
Van Oord has received an EPIC assignment from RWE and Essent to act as main contractor for the Met Mast IJmuiden and Met Mast Nordsee Ost (refered to as "Aeolus project"). The scope consists of design, supply, installation and commissioning of the foundation, lattice mast and instrumentation/ electrical outfitting of above masts and the installation of scour protection.

The Met Mast IJmuiden will be located approximately 85 km from the Dutch coastline, West of IJmuiden and is part of the Tromp Binnen Offshore Wind Project. The second Met Mast Nordsee Ost is part of the Nordsee Ost offshore wind project and will be located north-east from the island of Helgoland (German North Sea) and borders directly to the location of met mast Amrum Bank West, which is already operational.

Both Met Masts will be installed on a monopile foundation. Once the met masts are commisioned they will collect, record and transmit accurate meteorological and oceanographic data for subsequent use by wind farm developers and operators.

Our Work
Each lattice mast will be installed on a work platform which is supported by a monopile foundation, consisting of a 62 m steel tube with a diameter of 3.2 m. The tube pile will be driven approximately 32 m into the sea bed at a location where the sea is 26 m deep. The complete foundation will weigh an estimated 370 tonnes.

The design of the masts allows for data collection on up to 7 levels, varying in height between 20 to 90 mtrs above LAT. Measured and recorded data are: wind speeds, wind direction, temperature and differences in pressure. In order to facilitate the design of safe and cost-efficient foundations for wind turbines in the future, the mast will also be made suitable for measuring wave heights and wave lengths.  

Our Results
The fabrication of the foundations and lattice masts are presently ongoing while the instrumentation is being configured and tested. After onshore commissioning in August, the masts are scheduled to be installed by end September 2011. The installation of both masts on the 2 locations will take place in 1 offshore campaign. After a commissioning and testing period the masts are expected to be fully operational by October 2011.