Iberdrola has launched the pile testing campaign for its Wikinger offshore wind farm project following the completion of the site’s geotechnical investigation on the Baltic Sea.
German engineering and services group Bilfinger and its subcontractors are carrying out the tests in order to confirm the design of the wind farm foundations, checking the performance of the piles against static, dynamic and cyclic loads specific for offshore structures, and fulfil the requirements for pile testing as defined by the German navigation authorities, BSH. Nine steel piles, fabricated by Bilfinger MCE, are being driven into the seabed at selected locations, with static and dynamic tension and pressure tests to be conducted under water for several weeks. Additionally, the tests will evaluate the performance of noise mitigation systems being developed by a German contractor. The Wikinger offshore wind farm is being developed by Iberdrola, off the coast of the island of Rügen where the water depths range between 37 and 43 metres. The project covers an area of roughly 34 square kilometres, within which 70 turbines and one offshore substation are planned to be installed.
