DEME Offshore and Sika have formalized an agreement for the provision of grout material crucial to the 496MW Iles d'Yeu et Noirmoutier offshore wind farm. This partnership underscores the commitment to effective and reliable offshore construction practices.
Under the terms of the deal, Sika, previously known as MBCC Group, will deliver its specialized offshore grout, MasterFlow 9650. This high-performance material will be utilized for the structural connections between the steel monopile foundations and the rock bed, where the foundations will anchor. Additionally, the grout will be applied as skirt backfill between the transition piece and the monopile foundation.
The initial supply of MasterFlow 9650 grout is scheduled for early 2024, with foundation installation on the rock bed expected to follow soon after. The supply and installation phases are anticipated to extend over the course of a year.
The Iles d'Yeu et Noirmoutier project is a collaborative effort involving Ocean Winds, Sumitomo Corporation, Banque des Territoires, and Vendee Energie. The significance of this venture in the offshore wind sector is underlined by the selection of Sika's proven MasterFlow 9650 grout, which has previously demonstrated its efficacy in a similar French project.
Luc Westhof, Head of Offshore Sales Europe at MBCC Group, now part of Sika since May 2023, expressed satisfaction in continuing their collaboration with DEME. Westhof highlighted the reliability and efficiency of MasterFlow 9650, emphasizing its role in facilitating the swift and dependable construction of monopile foundations offshore.
Guillaume Fallourd, Project Manager at DEME France, echoed the sentiments of a solid partnership, citing the success of a previous project involving a similar XL grouted monopile. Fallourd expressed confidence in Sika's ability to once again prove an ideal partner for the Noirmoutier wind farm, further solidifying the collaboration's standing in the offshore construction sector.
