The Arklow Bank Wind Park was Ireland's first offshore wind project. At project outset in 2001, the wind park was intended to host 200 turbines with a nominal output of 520 MW. Ramboll acted as owner's consultant on the project.
The first of the giants
The wind park started producing electricity in 2004 and was the first offshore wind park to deploy giant wind turbines in excess of 3 megawatts.
In cooperation with Fehily Timoney Gifford, Ramboll carried out the environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the project including:
- conceptual/outline foundation design for water depths 5 to 30 metres
- design of monopiles, tripod foundation and gravity based foundations
- design basis for environmental forces
- numerical modelling of morphology
- design of scour
Thorough environmental investigations
Furthermore, emissions during the construction phase, construction and installation methods for foundation and turbines, constructional and operational risk analysis with respect to shipping traffic and decommissioning of structures was also part of the investigations.
Additionally, the assignment included provision of input to the environmental impact statement (EIS) on:
- the physical environment of the bank
- emissions during the construction phase
- construction and foundation methods for foundations and turbines
- decommissioning of the structures
- constructional and operational risk analysis with respect to shipping traffic