Dutch company Sif has recently inked a definitive contract to supply foundations for Ecowende's 760MW Hollandse Kust West site VI offshore wind project, located off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden. The agreement solidifies the manufacturing of 52 extended monopile foundations by Sif, featuring a unique design without transition pieces but incorporating secondary steel components. The total weight of these foundations is estimated to be around 70 kilotonnes.
In a departure from traditional designs, this transition piece-less configuration involves connecting secondary steel components such as boat-landings, ladders, main access platforms, and internal platforms to the monopile foundations after installation at sea. Sif will also be responsible for delivering these secondary steel components as part of the same contract.
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While the project was previously listed in Sif's order book for 70 kilotonnes, the final contract signing has now solidified production plans for 2025.
Folkert Visser, CEO and project director of Ecowende, emphasized the importance of harmonizing wind farm construction with nature to achieve the ambitious target of 70GW of offshore wind energy by 2050 within the ecological limits of the North Sea. Ecowende intends to incorporate innovations and larger-scale measures to mitigate environmental impact, including designing monopiles for low-noise installation methods and supporting wildlife detection and monitoring devices.
Sif Holding CEO Fred van Beers expressed pride in the company's efficiency in delivering monopile foundations for entire offshore wind farms within tight timelines. He highlighted the strategic location of Sif's manufacturing facilities in Rotterdam and the comprehensive support provided, encompassing both extended monopile foundations and secondary steel components.
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Van Beers also noted that having all 52 monopile foundations and their secondary steel components finished and stored at the Maasvlakte facility when Van Oord's installation vessel Boreas arrives represents a significant de-risking of the project for both Ecowende and Sif. With two decades of experience in the Dutch North Sea wind farm market, Sif's extensive knowledge further underscores its role in supporting such projects.
