Danish energy company Orsted has announced the use of a new recyclable material for monopile covers at its Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm in the UK. This decision follows extensive testing conducted in collaboration with suppliers TME and CS Wind Offshore.
The recyclable tarpaulin material, which will be used for the first time during the construction of Hornsea 3, is designed to protect monopile foundations and cables of offshore wind turbines during installation. These covers, known as TP covers, are essential for shielding monopiles from the elements. By switching to recyclable material, Orsted aims to prevent approximately 10 tonnes of landfill waste per offshore project.
Orsted’s head of construction sustainability, Rasmus Uldahl Kjeldsen, emphasized the environmental significance of the initiative, stating, “At Orsted, we believe protecting our environment can go hand in hand with innovation and efficiency. This collaboration with TME and CS Wind Offshore shows that designing out waste from the beginning is possible and can be done without compromising quality or increasing cost.”
The new material was developed after Orsted tested various industrial recycling options for traditional cover materials, but none proved viable. TME, one of Orsted’s partners, proposed a new recyclable solution, which was validated through rigorous outdoor and lab tests at CS Wind Offshore’s facilities.
Hornsea 3, located 160 km off the coast of Yorkshire, will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion. When operational, it will contribute to Orsted’s broader Hornsea project trio, which will have a combined capacity of over 5GW, making it the largest offshore wind zone globally.
Jess Westcott, Hornsea 3 project director, highlighted the project’s commitment to sustainability, saying, “One of our ambitions on Hornsea 3 is to be the greenest offshore wind farm yet. Using monopile covers that can be recycled is another positive step on that sustainability journey.”
