Construction of the 480MW offshore wind farm at Saint-Nazaire, off the Guérade Peninsula in western France, represented a huge challenge for piling engineers. The majority of the 80 XL monopile foundations required, had to be installed in a hard, rocky seabed. These conditions meant that the piles could not be driven in by a hammer alone – the majority had to be drilled into position. This made Saint-Nazaire the first wind farm in the world to use this installation method.
In addition, engineers had to cope with the Atlantic’s adverse weather conditions and the marine swell. IQIP played its part in this unique project by suppling a range of innovative equipment – developed using in-house expertise and incorporating proven technology – and a dedicated team of highly skilled technicians to oversee its operation.
