Editor's Note: It is reported that the French Atlantic coast Noirmoutier offshore wind farm project is preparing to begin using Herrenknecht Offshore Foundation Drilling (OFD) equipment to install wind turbines in mid-May this year. This new equipment, developed from vertical excavation equipment used in underground engineering, makes it possible to install foundations for wind turbines and other coastal infrastructure even on rocky seabeds. Come and learn about it together!

Project Introduction

The Noirmoutier offshore wind farm project is France's ** offshore wind farm, and will be equipped with 62 8MW wind turbines, covering an area of approximately 83 km². The project also includes a 2,500-ton offshore substation facility, which will collect and convert the electricity generated by the wind turbines and feed it into France's national grid. Once operational, the Noirmoutier wind farm is expected to generate 1,900 GWh per year, enough to meet the annual electricity demand of 90,000 people.

The Noirmoutier wind farm will be located offshore approximately 11.7 km from Île d'Yeu and 16.5 km from Noirmoutier Island. Water depths in the area range from 19 m to 36 m, and the seabed consists of Atlantic rock geology that is difficult to construct in with conventional piling methods.

However, the application of Offshore Foundation Drilling (OFD) equipment makes it possible to safely install foundations for wind turbines and other coastal infrastructure even in rocky seabed environments such as that of the Noirmoutier wind farm. The application of this technology also opens up new space for the expansion of offshore wind energy and renewable energy.

Equipment Features

Herrenknecht's offshore foundation drilling technology was developed primarily for the installation of wind turbines and various other types of offshore infrastructure, and it brings the concept of vertical excavation used in underground engineering to the offshore environment.

At the same time, this technology overcomes the limitations of seabed piling methods and is particularly suitable for difficult geological environments where piling is not appropriate, such as the Atlantic rock geology beneath the Noirmoutier wind farm. In addition, this technology also addresses the serious noise problems caused by piling methods and can meet increasingly stringent underwater noise emission requirements aimed at protecting underwater animals.

Offshore foundation drilling technology was first tested during the construction of the Saint-Nazaire wind farm in 2021 and 2022. After being applied again at the Noirmoutier wind farm, it is expected to be used more widely in the future.