Energy News
Environmentally friendly and cost-effective: Bucket foundations for offshore wind turbines
Offshore wind energy is a key to the energy transition. Our experts had been researching safe substructures for offshore wind turbines that can be installed quickly, cost-effectively and in an environmentally friendly manner.
The conclusion of the ProBucket research project: Bucket foundations are an environmentally friendly and potentially cost-effective base for offshore wind energy plants. A group of researchers, including experts from Lahmeyer International were studying the technique. Suction buckets have long been known as foundation elements for offshore oil and gas platforms. Although they are occasionally used for wind turbines, this is not yet an established practice.
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection of Germany was funding the ProBucket research project, which has been ongoing for approximately four years. The aim was to optimize the geotechnical and structural design procedures of this type of foundation and to assess the economic potential for use in wind turbines. In addition to Lahmeyer International, other experienced partners were involved in the project consortium initiated by the Fraunhofer Institute: Tennet, GuD Consult, HP Hanseatic Power Cert, Leibniz University Hannover, the German Federal Institutes for Hydraulic Engineering and Material Research, as well as the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. The PtJ Research Centre Jülich was supporting the project on behalf of the German federal government.
Installation of a suction bucket in the foundation test pit.
Image © Fraunhofer IWES
Anchor concepts tested and new ones developed
In model tests at different scales, the teams of experts investigated designs and installation procedures. They found that despite complicated manufacturing, suction buckets in combination with jacket structures can be an economical type of foundation with a growing market share in the medium term. These stable constructions can be installed quietly, are easy to transport and save on material input.
In addition, the research group developed solutions for new bucket anchor concepts suitable for future offshore wind farm developments with floating support structures.
„Climate change does not leave us much time. We need fast, safe solutions that work and are environmentally friendly and we need them right now. We are investigating a technique for the wind energy market that is already a proven practice in other industries. Our study shows that suction bucket foundations can improve the economic viability of green offshore energy,“ says Dr. Patric Kleineidam, Head of Renewables at Lahmeyer International in Germany.