The first batch of monopile foundations for the Baltica 2 offshore wind project in Poland has been loaded out and placed onto a barge for transport to the feeder port of Rønne in Denmark, the project’s developers said.
The load-out marks the transition from manufacturing to offshore logistics for the project, which is one of the largest offshore wind developments planned in the Baltic Sea. A total of 111 monopiles are scheduled for Baltica 2, including 107 foundations for wind turbines and four for offshore substations, the developers said.
Each monopile can be up to 100 metres long, around 10 metres in diameter and weigh as much as 1,900 tonnes. The developers said the structures require high manufacturing precision, extensive pre-commissioning testing and multi-layer corrosion protection systems to meet offshore operating requirements.
Manufacturing and load-out activities at EEW Group’s production facilities are progressing according to plan, with transport operations remaining on schedule, the developers added.
Preparatory offshore works are already under way ahead of installation activities expected to start in May. Once installed, the monopile foundations will support turbines with a total height of around 250 metres, the developers said.
