Floating installation used to erect first turbine at 257-MW Arcadis Ost 1

The first turbine has been installed at the 257-MW Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm in the German Baltic Sea through the use of a floating installation method, it was announced on Thursday.

The project’s developer, Belgium’s Parkwind, partnered with Netherlands-based Heerema Marine Contractors and Danish turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) to deliver what is said to be the world's first floating installation of a wind turbine.

The wind farm will consist of 27 Vestas’ V174-9.5 MW turbines and is due to be commissioned in 2023.

Plans for using floating installation were announced in November 2019. The advantages of this approach include no seabed interaction, which is especially important in areas of large water depth or challenging soil conditions, as well as shorter installation cycle, the parties explain.

"This new innovative installation method promises to unlock the potential of many offshore areas around the world with challenging soil conditions," said Flemming Ougaard, senior vice president of construction in Vestas Northern & Central Europe.

The wind farm is also the first in Europe equipped with Vestas’ V174-9.5MW turbines.

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