Session: 05-02-01 Aquaculture and Related Technology I

Submission Number: 157381

Integrated Nature-Inclusive Design of the Innovative Tri-Suction Pile Caisson Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation 

The Tri-Suction Pile Caisson (TSPC) is an innovative Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) foundation. The TSPC is designed to be installed with noiseless suction technology. Since the suction technology itself is proven technology, the design phase provided opportunities to go beyond state-of-the-art on several aspects. This included designs for mounting a number of Nature-Inclusive Design (NID) components in the assembly yard. Integrating tailored ecological functions to the TSPC foundation by design, as opposed to conventional add-on or retrofitted ecological design approaches, the ecological return on investment. Consequently, it contributes to a seamless upscaling of the desired ecological impact on the marine ecosystem in the context of OWF development.

This study presents the ecological and techno-economic criteria employed in the assessment during the design phase and subsequent development of four integrated NID options for the TSPC foundation with the aim to cost-efficiently increase its ecological value for marine ecosystems such as the Southern North Sea. Moreover, we present key insights obtained from the validation of the hydraulic performance of the proposed designs, by means of scale model tests in a laboratory setting under realistic offshore conditions involving waves, currents and a mobile seabed.

This study therefore provides a method for applying early stage integration of Nature-Inclusive Designs to technical innovations in wind farm foundations. In addition, it shows that based on the testing the NID-enhancement of the TSPC is expected to have a positive effect on reducing the hydraulic loading exerted on the loose rock scour protection, when compared to the base case TSPC foundation. This highlights the potential synergistic relationship between NID and offshore wind infrastructure, which becomes possible through early phase design and integration. The present laboratory tests were geared towards hydraulic stability. To what extent the NID adaptations actually benefit ecology will need to be tested in the field.

Presenting Author: Antonios Emmanouil Stichting Deltares

Presenting Author Biography: Advisor and Researcher on Hydrodynamics and Offshore Technology at Stichting Deltares, focusing on nature-inclusive design and multi-use of marine space in the context of energy transition and climate change.