Last foundation pile installed for Westermeerwind nearshore wind park
Rotterdam/Schiedam, the Netherlands, 27 May 2015 - On 23 May, the Van Oord/Mammoet joint venture drove the last foundation pile into the bed of the IJsselmeer, completing the foundation work for the Westermeerwind wind park. The installation of the 48 foundation piles in the bed of the IJsselmeer went extremely smoothly.
Construction continues six days a week, but because piles are only driven during the daytime, the schedule provided for driving one pile per day. On 23 May, however, the crew repeated for a fourth time its achievement of driving two piles within twelve hours, an exceptional performance in the offshore wind industry. This extraordinary accomplishment was made possible by the expertise of both companies and their excellent cooperation.
The power cables are currently being laid between the completed offshore wind turbine foundations and the transformer station itself. The installation of the total of 44 kilometres of cables between the wind turbines and the land will be completed in June. The installation of the tower sections, nacelles, and blades, which will take most of the summer, will begin in mid-July. The first power is expected to reach land in August, after which the turbines will be tested and then commissioned. The entire wind park is expected to be completed in February 2016.
Foundation pile Westermeerwind (portrait)