Van Oord has completed the transport and installation of all 21 monopiles at Iberdrola’s 315MW Windanker offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea. The project marks a significant step forward in offshore wind technology and sustainability practices.
The company’s heavy lift installation vessel Svanen, recently upgraded, played a pivotal role in handling the largest monopiles Van Oord has ever installed. These monopiles, manufactured by a joint venture between Navantia and Windar, boast impressive dimensions: diameters of 10 metres, lengths ranging from 70.6 to 86.6 metres, and weights reaching up to 2,145 tonnes. Van Oord’s scope included loading the monopiles in Spain, transporting them to the Port of Rønne in Denmark, and lifting them with MTC cranes before towing them to Svanen.
To mitigate environmental impact, Van Oord employed bubble screens and a Hydro Sound Damper net to reduce underwater noise during installation. The company also utilized renewable fuel to power the bubble screen compressors, cutting greenhouse gas emissions for this activity by up to 86%. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving Iberdrola, Van Oord, and Hydrotechnik Offshore, who shared the costs of the renewable fuel.
In a pioneering move, Van Oord partnered with Skyports Drone Services to deploy long-range drones for transporting items offshore. This pilot project made Van Oord the first marine contractor to perform Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights to vessels in a wind farm under construction.
Joost van Wiechen, project manager at Van Oord, emphasized the significance of this milestone: “Completing the transport and installation of all monopiles at the Windanker offshore wind farm marks an important milestone for the project. This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our teams, the excellent collaboration with our client Iberdrola, and the outstanding performance of the Svanen. We are proud to have installed our largest and heaviest monopile to date, which demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the energy transition and delivering sustainable solutions for the future.”
Upon completion, Windanker will add 315MW of capacity to Iberdrola’s Baltic Hub, supplying renewable energy to approximately 315,000 households. Van Oord’s remaining scope includes installing 21 transition pieces by December 2025 and inter-array cables in the first quarter of 2026.
This project underscores the growing trend of large-scale offshore wind developments and the increasing focus on sustainability and innovation in the sector. The successful installation of these massive monopiles and the use of renewable fuel and drones highlight the industry’s progress toward more efficient and environmentally friendly practices. As offshore wind farms continue to expand, such advancements will be crucial in meeting global renewable energy targets and reducing carbon emissions.