The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has given the green light to BP's plans to test suction bucket foundations for its Beacon Wind project off the Massachusetts coast, determining that the proposed activities will not significantly impact environmental resources.
In a recent announcement, BOEM disclosed that Beacon Wind's proposal entails conducting 35 deployments and removals of a single suction bucket foundation at 26 different locations within its lease area. This initiative aims to gather crucial insights into the viability of this foundation design.
Suction bucket foundations represent an innovative alternative that eliminates the need for pile driving during turbine installation. BOEM highlighted the potential benefits of this technology, stating that it could reduce underwater noise pollution associated with traditional installation methods and provide greater flexibility amid supply chain constraints.
The Beacon Wind projects, collectively expected to generate approximately 2430MW, are situated 17 nautical miles south of Massachusetts and 52 nautical miles east of the eastern tip of New York's Long Island.
