Filling foundations with rocks to cope with floating ice

FINLAND: Offshore on ice Turbine installation has been completed at the 40MW Tahkoluoto project off Pori, south-west Finland.

The ten 4MW Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy turbines sit on rock-filled gravity-base foundations specially designed to withstand the Arctic conditions of the Gulf of Bothnia.

The conical top foundation design can withstand ice ridges, formed from pressed drifting ice, to a height of 25 metres. Such ridges are common in the Gulf in winter. The turbines have a hub height of 90 metres and a rotor diameter of 130 metres.

The project will be Finland's first commercial offshore site, according to developer Suomen Hyotytuuli.