Ailes Marines opts for the drilling method to install the foundation piles, a technique with less impact on the environment.

In this regard, Van Oord and Ailes Marines have already learned from the test results and implemented improvements for the installation campaign which will start in spring 2021:

❖ Confirmation of the use of a “jack-up” vessel to improve the stability of drilling operations.

❖ Optimization of drilling systems and on-board spare parts.

● Drilling, a technique with less impact on the environment

Thanks to the engineering studies and the various tests carried out on land and at sea, Ailes Marines selected the drilling solution for the installation of the piles of the 62 wind turbine foundations and that of the electrical substation, i.e. a total of 190 piles anchor.

The choice of drilling technique for installing the piles will significantly reduce the impacts of the work on fish species and marine mammals.

In measurements show that drilling work will generate noise of a sound intensity comparable, among other things, to cruise ships or container ships, or even to small boats such as speedboats or jet skis. These noise levels are no longer likely to cause a risk of mortality or severe injury to marine mammals. Note that a group of dolphins hunting was observed 1.5 km from the work vessel by the SOMME design office during slicing tests this summer (sound levels equivalent to drilling), thus demonstrating normal behavior at close range. activities.

Furthermore, for the drilling tests, the measured turbidities were lower than 5-6 NTU. The NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) is the standard unit for measuring transparency, directly linked to turbidity (suspended matter content). If the NTU is less than 5 the water is clear, between 5 and 30 slightly cloudy and above 50 the water is cloudy.