TPi January 2015

news business & market

400 tonnes of 3D profiled and SAW tubular steel is being used for a suction bucket foundation being trialled in the North Sea

Offshore wind turbine ‘suction bucket’ foundation prototype

installation, profiled tubular assemblies were delivered to the Bladt Industries facility in Aalborg, Denmark, enabling the company to swiftly manufacture the foundation jacket structure. The prototype jacket will sit alongside 77 standard turbines in the Borkum Riffgrun 1 wind farm, 37km off the northwest German coast in the North Sea, with capacity to generate CO 2 -free power for over 280,000 households. Tata Steel and Eisenbau Krämer have collaborated on developing products and services for offshore wind foundations since 2011. A successful trial will enable the design to be moved

into serial production for future offshore wind projects, including UK Round 3 wind farms. Speaking about the project, Tata Steel commercial manager Phil Knowles said, “We have successfully managed the timely delivery of jacket components for this evolutionary project, which is a positive statement of our intent and capability in this area. Bladt Industries has shown great faith in Tata Steel’s reputation and we welcome their backing.”

Tata Steel, Europe’s second largest steel producer, in conjunction with German pipe manufacturer Eisenbau Krämer, has completed delivery of 400 tonnes of 3D profiled and submerged arc welded (SAW) tubular steel to Bladt Industries, for use in an innovative suction bucket foundation being trialled in the North Sea. In a bid to significantly reduce offshore wind energy costs by 40 per cent by 2020, the three-legged design uses vacuum-assisted technology to secure the structure to the seabed, reducing installation costs and the environmental noise impact of conventional steel piling. With limited time before

Tata steel europe ltd – UK feedback@tatasteel.com www.tatasteeleurope.com

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Tube ProducTs InTernaTIonal January 2015

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