Wind Energy – Maasvlakte
Ballast Nedam from the Netherlands installed the last of twelve monopile foundations on the beach at the outer edge of Maasvlakte 2, Rotterdam.
They are part of the Maasvlakte 2 Wind Farm.
The wind farm will feature twenty-two Vestas wind turbines.
Twelve of these are placed on the soft sea wall (beach) and ten on concrete foundations on the hard sea wall.
Ballast Nedam was awarded the contract to build the foundations in November 2021. Preparatory construction activities on site started in February.
Due to the location, Ballast Nedam implemented a flanged monopile foundation design for the 12 wind turbines. It is the first time that monopile foundations are being used for onshore wind turbines.
The first of the 40 m-high monopile foundations with an average 5 metre diameter was installed on the beach in May this year.
A CAPE VLT (CAPE Holland) was used to upend and drive the piles to a stable depth from a temporary platform on the beach. The piles were driven to final penetration with a S-1400 Hydrohammer.