A milestone has been reached on a pioneering offshore wind turbine project in Aberdeen Bay.

The first suction bucket jacket foundation has been successfully installed for Vattenfall's 11-turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) development.

The scheme is the first offshore wind project to deploy the steel jacket foundations at commercial scale. The first 1,800 tonne structure was installed on Sunday by Asian Hercules III; a 25,000-tonne versatile floating crane.

Adam Ezzamel, EOWDC Project Director for Vattenfall, said the installation of the suction bucket foundations is a "major accomplishment" for the project team, contractors and the offshore wind industry.

"Suction bucket jacket foundations - which can each be installed with a single offshore lift, virtually without noise and within a matter of hours - bring considerable environmental benefits," he said.


"They are lowered into the water where the upturned buckets are rapidly embedded into the seabed to create a secure foundation for installation of the world's most powerful wind turbine later this spring.

"By enabling faster and smarter installation, the technology will drive down offshore wind costs considerably, provide a further foundation option at challenging sites, whilst also allowing an easier and complete decommissioning. These foundations are the first visible structures offshore for the EOWDC which we hope will go some way to help establish the North-east as a centre for offshore wind innovation."

Once completed, the 92.4MW EOWDC will trial next generation technology and generate the equivalent of 70% of Aberdeen's domestic electricity demand, as well as displacing 132,977 tonnes of CO2 each year.

Jean Morrison, Chair of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), said: "The EOWDC has always intended to be a pioneering development and the use of the suction bucket jacket foundations is a great example of fresh innovation in the offshore wind sector.

"This is another exciting stage for the project with first visibility of the structures offshore as the project moves closer to its operational phase."

(LM)