Firsts class | RWE's offshore wind pioneer Kaskasi in full swing off Germany
Largest component in place at project deploying new foundation and turbine blade technology that also marks commercial departure for Fred Olsen Windcarrier
RWE hailed a milestone for its Kaskasi North Sea wind farm as the single heaviest component was added to a project that boasts a string of technical and commercial firsts.
Placing of the 342MW Kaskasi's 1,400-tonne substation topside came as work got underway to install its 38 turbine monopiles at the project in German waters 35km off the island of Heligoland.
Those foundations will include a portion installed using novel vibro-piling technology that is being tested for its potential to reduce underwater noise emissions and their impact on marine life.
Other pioneering features of Kaskasi include deployment of three ‘collared monopiles’ designed to offer improved foundation load-bearing, and the first use by several of its Siemens Gamesa turbines of recyclable rotor blades developed by the wind OEM.
The project – RWE’s sixth off Germany – also includes a commercial debut in the form of the first foundation contract for turbine installation specialist Fred Olsen Windcarrier, whose Blue Tern is one of four vessels deploying the monopiles in water depths of 18-25 metres.
Kaskasi is due to be online by the end of this year when it will generate enough power for 400,000 German homes, said RWE.
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