630 MW OCEAN WIND LONDON ARRAY ADVANCES

London Array gets foundation approval
Paul Garrett, 17 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"An innovative type of wind turbine foundation designed for the UK's London Array offshore wind farm by contractor ABJV has received approval by industry certifiers…

"…[A] conical joint is to be used at the top of the London Array [monopole foundations] to prevent transition piece slippage. Nearly 100 have been installed already."

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"Work on the new design was prompted by some problems previously reported in other monopile foundations. As well as addressing…grouting and slippage problems, the new design takes into account variation in water depths and moveable seabed conditions across a wind-farm site.

"The 630MW, 17-turbine first phase of London Array, in the outer Thames Estuary in south-east England, is due for completion at the end of this year. It is being developed by a consortium of Dong Energy, E.on and Masdar."