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It may look like small UFOs have landed at Thyboron Port in Denmark, but these are actually foundation covers for RWE’s 1.1 gigawatt (GW) Thor offshore wind farm. Recently, RWE took delivery of 36 out of a total of 72 innovative reusable monopile covers from the Dutch company Circular Covers B.V. These covers will protect the monopile foundations from the harsh marine environment until the turbine towers are installed next year. By reusing these covers, RWE continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and circularity.
The covers provide a temporary but essential shield against seawater, rain, and bird droppings until the turbine towers are mounted on the monopiles. Normally, such covers are discarded after use, as they are custom-made for specific offshore projects.
Located 22 kilometers off the west coast of Jutland in the Danish North Sea, the Thor wind farm will feature 72 turbines, with half utilizing CO2-reduced steel towers and 40 turbines equipped with recyclable rotor blades. Efforts to decarbonize steel production for the turbine towers include using green electricity and scrap steel in place of iron ore. The new resin technology in the rotor blades allows for easy separation of materials at the end of their life cycle, making it possible to reuse the components in industries such as automotive or consumer goods.
The covers from Circular Covers B.V. are made from glass fiber reinforced composite panels bolted to a steel frame. The design allows the panels to be adjusted and reused for different monopile sizes. The individual panels are expected to last for 15 years or more, depending on how often the diameter needs adjusting.
The 72 covers for the Thor project were previously used at an offshore wind farm off the Dutch coast. RWE is the first company in the world to reuse these covers, giving them a second life. After their use at the Thor wind farm, the adjustable covers will be deployed at other upcoming offshore wind projects. Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind said, “We are committed to sustainability improvements and innovations at our offshore wind projects, and the reusable covers are an important part of this. At RWE, we are the first in the world to install covers from Circular Covers B.V. that have previously been used on the high seas. These covers reduce waste and increase circularity whilst the initiative exemplifies our dedication to sustainable practices. In addition, our Thor wind farm will pilot turbine towers made from CO2-reduced steel and use recyclable wind turbine blades.”
