Van Oord’s installation vessel Boreas placed the first monopile at the Ecowende offshore wind farm on December 3. This joint venture by Shell, Eneco, and Chubu Electric Power aims to be the most ecological offshore wind farm, located off the Dutch coast.
Situated 53 kilometers from IJmuiden, the wind farm will feature 52 monopile foundations by Sif and Smulders, supporting 52 Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines.
Dubbed “the most ecological to date,” the project employs nature-inclusive technologies. Monopiles have diameters of 8.8 and 9.3 meters to support different turbine heights, allowing safer bird passage and reducing collision risks. Some turbines will have red blades as part of a trial to reduce bird collisions.
Construction began in September with eco-friendly scour protection installation at the Ecowende site (Hollandse Kust West Site VI).
This year, Van Oord and Ecowende signed a contract for designing, constructing, and installing Tree Reefs and Oyster Hubs at the site.
The Boreas vessel supports these goals. Equipped with a 3,310-tonne crane, it uses emissions-reducing technology and operates on methanol, reducing its environmental impact. The vessel’s low-noise systems further limit marine life disruption.
Tjalling de Bruin, CEO of Ecowende, stated: “Installing the first monopile is a major milestone. It advances our wind farm’s realization and lets us test noise-minimizing techniques. We are proud to partner with Van Oord, aligning with our ambition to build a nature-friendly wind farm and expand offshore wind in the Netherlands and beyond.”
Under a contract with Ecowende, Van Oord handles the transportation and installation of foundations, designs and lays connecting cables, and installs the wind turbines.
The 760 MW wind farm is slated for full operation by the end of 2026.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz