AFRY Launches Initiative to Advance Gravity Based Foundations for Offshore Wind in Northern Baltic Sea

AFRY Launches Initiative to Advance Gravity Based Foundations for Offshore Wind in Northern Baltic Sea

(IN BRIEF) AFRY has launched a Joint Industry Project (JIP) focused on Gravity Based Foundations (GBFs) for offshore wind energy in the Northern Baltic Sea. Recognizing the region’s potential to generate over 100 GW of offshore wind power by 2050, with GBFs potentially supporting up to 70% of projects, the initiative aims to overcome challenges like hard soils and severe ice loading. GBFs offer advantages such as minimal environmental disruption, suitability for rocky seabeds, and effective performance in icy conditions. The JIP, starting Q3 2024, will assess GBF’s business case, explore technical aspects, optimize logistics, and promote local economic benefits.

(PRESS RELEASE) SOLNA, 18-Jun-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — AFRY has announced the launch of a Joint Industry Project (JIP) aimed at advancing the deployment of Gravity Based Foundations (GBFs) for offshore wind energy projects in the Northern Baltic Sea region. This initiative comes in response to unique challenges posed by the area’s hard soils and severe ice loading conditions, which may limit the feasibility of traditional monopiles and piled jackets.

The Northern Baltic Sea holds significant potential for offshore wind energy, with projections suggesting it could generate over 100 GW by 2050, aiming for 35 GW realistically. GBFs are identified as a promising solution for up to 70% of these projects, potentially involving the installation of more than 1,290 GBFs due to their effectiveness in severe ice conditions, reduced installation noise, and suitability for rocky seabeds.

Key advantages of GBFs include their minimal environmental disruption during installation, as they do not require drilling and can be fully removed, leaving behind a clean seabed that facilitates recycling.

AFRY’s JIP seeks to unite energy stakeholders to address the complex challenges associated with large-scale GBF deployment. The project aims to assess the business case for GBFs, explore technical innovations, optimize production logistics, evaluate environmental impacts, and enhance local supply chains. These efforts are expected to foster economic growth in the region and establish a globally recognized offshore wind industry.

The JIP will operate through five main workstreams covering environmental impacts, design concepts, local supply chains and ports, transportation and installation logistics, and socio-economic considerations. Work on these streams will commence in Q3 2024, with reports anticipated by mid-2025, and the overall initiative expected to conclude within a year.

Interested parties are encouraged to join the JIP, contributing expertise, funding, or knowledge sharing to shape the future of offshore wind energy in the Northern Baltic Sea region alongside AFRY and its collaborators.

About AFRY

AFRY provides engineering, design, digital and advisory services to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 19,000 devoted experts in industry, energy and infrastructure sectors, creating impact for generations to come. AFRY has Nordic roots with a global reach, net sales of 27 BSEK and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

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Media Contact:

Leon Hofland
Project Manager, AFRY
leon.hofland@afry.com

SOURCE: AFRY