DEME Offshore and Eiffage Métal have completed installation of 80 foundations at the Saint-Nazaire offshore windfarm in France
The companies said industry-first technology was deployed to install the foundations in solid rock.
Installation of the foundations started in Q2 2021. DEME and its partner Herrenknecht jointly designed a 350-tonne offshore foundation drill to undertake drilling work for the XL monopiles.
Other unique equipment deployed at Saint-Nazaire included ‘MODIGA,’ specially designed equipment which encapsulated drilling and installation operations, protecting them from adverse conditions. The complete solution was deployed from the offshore installation vessel Innovation.
DEME Offshore general manager Bart De Poorter said, “Deploying this equipment enabled us to complete the installation well ahead of schedule.
“Installation operations continued through the winter season, despite the combination of severe weather conditions and the harsh Atlantic ocean environment.”
“Our teams and crew have not only gained substantial experience for the next offshore windfarm projects at the French coast, but also to successfully carry out installation works in similar challenging conditions across the globe.”
The Saint-Nazaire windfarm will have a total capacity of 480 MW. It is being developed by EDF Renouvelables, Enbridge and CPP Investments.
