The Universal Foundation Concept

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• The Universal Foundation Concept

Søren A. Nielsen, MBD, Project Manager Lars Bo
Ibsen, Aalborg University, Research Professor

• MBD, brief introduction
• Development approach
• Projects
• The bucket foundation
• NearshoreLAB
• Development of UFC
• Concept philosophy
• Basic structure
• Stakeholders
• Development

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MBD Offshore Power A/S
RD company founded in 2001 Present
shareholders DONG Energy, gt50 MarCon
Novasion Subsidiaries NearshoreLAB A/S, DONG
Energy 91 Primary cooperation Aalborg
University
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The challenges

• Sites are getting larger
• Geological complex seabeds
• Focus on reduction of costs
• Focus on handling of risks, e.g. weather window,
  availability of construction equipment

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The project development approach

• The look in the rear mirror
• Only the road you recently travelled
• Own experiences (try and error)
• Technology transfer

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Development approach
Industrialized product development

• Project development ? development projects
• Focus on total supply chain
• Coordinated RD in each link of the supply chain
• Active use of feedback
• Technology transfer
• is not only using a product in a different
  location
• it is adapting technology to new physical
  environment
• it is adapting the organisation culture
• it is adapting the knowledge and education

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Development approach
Projects versus industry in the offshore wind
business
Project development
Industrial development
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Barriers for new offshore technology

• Lag of focus on technology transfer,
  understanding of the scope
• References, track record
• Large scale demonstrations (few pieces, not whole
  parks)
• Handling of risk issues

Off cause there is always a small risk when you
participate in experimental tooth cleaning, but
remember, the treatment is a free offer......!
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Projects
The prototype for Pos. 1, Frederikshavn
The Ø12x6 m prototype bucket foundation was
designed for a Vestas V90 3MW turbine placed on 4
m of water. The design is certified by DNV. The
bucket was installed in late 2002 and is in
normal operation. The structure/soil interaction
has been investigated with sophisticated modal
analyse equipment.
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Projects
The prototype for Wilhelmshaven E-112
4,5 MW turbine positioned 500 m of the coast
outside Hochsiel oil installation Water depth 4
m. Load regime Moment gt 300.000 kNm, vertical
load gt 11000 kN, horizontal load gt 5000 kN,
foundation weight app. 400 tons. Installation
April 2005.
Try and error. Our conclusion The installation
was jeopar-dized by a impact of the auxiliary
vessel during operation outside the predicted
wind window. Learning Plans and procedures to
be followed
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Projects
The test site,
Frederikshavn
25 MW, 5 km of the coast Demonstration of 6
different 0-series turbines 6 different
foundation concepts Cabling Scour
protection Access systems Power system
adaptation
Approval for construction June 2008
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UFC philosophy, a framework for project
development
The UFC is a concurrent process, adding new
processes and experiences to a database, used
by a configuration methodology to produce the
required documentation in each step of the wind
farm projects focusing on

• The optimal foundation for each turbine position
• Design is parameter driven
• Structure based on scaleable modules and
  elements
• Production based on series or mass production
• Installation in widest possible weather window
• Installation based on common available vessels

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The UFC framework
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Offshore wind turbine foundations
The flexibility of the bucket foundation gives
wider range of application. Sites with complex
geotechnical properties can be cover by a single
foundation concept
Platform
Bucket
Mono pile
Tripod
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UFC basic foundation principle
The bucket foundation (B) is a hybrid combining
features from the gravitation platform (A) and
the mono pile (C)
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Bucket foundation

• Main objectives
• Cost reduction, reduction of steel consumption,
  rational production, smaller installation
  equipment, reduction of load regime.
• Risk management, availability of vessels,
  weather window, seabed condition.
• Going from one off offshore construction to
  industrialized product, optimised design at each
  position, parameter driven design, standardized
  construction elements, standardized installation
  procedures.

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Bucket size variations
Different foundation depth with the same wind
turbine load. 11 buckets increases load taking
with (Ddiameter) 4.
10 m
20 m
12x12 m
30 m
13x13 m
40 m
14x14 m
15x15 m
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Bucket size variations
Different penetration depth due to soil condition
with the same wind turbine load.
Uniform soil
14 x 14 m
18 x 9 m
Hard layer
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UFC development
Stakeholders / network

• AaU Research professor, 4 Ph.D.s
• NearshoreLAB
• DONG Energy
• Wind turbine industry
• Construction industry
• Certifying parties
• Consultants

Cooperation
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UFC development projects
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UFC development projects
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Future UFC development projects

• Transport and installation system
• Scanning of penetration path for objects , e.g.
  stoner, boulders
• Penetration methods in harder soil and soil
  anchors
• Main foundation structures in high tension
  concrete composite
• Sub structures in industrialized design

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• Thank you for your attention