News

GROW side-event at the WindDays - Foundation Innovation

12 June 2019, 11.15 – 12.45, WTC Beursplein 37, Rotterdam, Leeuwen Room II

Interested in the developments in offshore wind foundations?

During this side-event, GROW presents several new developments in the field of offshore foundations. David the Jager, director of GROW, will lead you through the program. The first (intermediate) results of three GROW projects will be presented;

• Gentle Driving of Piles, Maxim Segeren (TU Delft), a presentation on an installation method based on simultaneous application of low-frequency and high-frequency vibrators.
• Slip Joint Offshore Research (SJOR) project, Reinder Jorritsma (DOT) and Sander Suur (Van Oord), will inform you about the application of a new type of connection between the offshore wind turbine and the monopile.
• Hydraulic Pile Extraction – Scale Tests (HyPE-ST), Ahmed Elkadi (Deltares / TU Delft), about the testing of the removal of piles from the soil at the end of their operational life.

The presentations will be followed by a discussion.

Find out more about the presentations

Interested?

Let us know that you want to visit the GROW side-event by registering here.

Please note: You also need to purchase a WindDays Exhibition ticket to enter the GROW side-event. You can buy ticket to the WindDays exhibition here.

Innovation doesn’t stop with subsidy-free tenders

22 March 2019

In the coming years, offshore wind energy in the Netherlands will get a big boost. By 2030, the total installed offshore wind capacity is planned to be 11.5 GW. Where a few years ago, offshore wind was seen by the general public as the most expensive climate solution, it has now become one that needs almost no financial support from the Government. Technological and non-technological innovation have contributed significantly in bringing the cost of offshore wind energy down. With offshore wind being more competitive, do we still need to invest in innovations in this area? The answer is YES!

Wind Energy Magazine spoke to David de Jager, director of GROW, a consortium of about 20 players in the Dutch offshore wind energy industry that work towards bringing down the cost of offshore wind and increasing the role in the energy system by exchanging knowledge and intensive cooperation. 

You can find the complete interview with David de Jager here.

GROW and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy sign collaboration agreement to strengthen innovation in offshore wind energy

22 March 2019

Offshore wind energy is a key technology in the transition of our energy system towards sustainability. This is demonstrated by its dominant position in several energy agreements and reports on the energy transition. Also the draft Climate Agreement is heading in that direction. GROW, the consortium of leading Dutch offshore wind industry and research partners, is working hard on the required innovations to fulfil this important role. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy fully supports GROW. “The Dutch offshore wind sector represented in GROW is leading the way.” said Sandor Gaastra, Director General Climate & Energy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. “That is why my ministry signed a collaboration agreement with GROW. With this agreement we will further strengthen the position of offshore wind energy and of the Dutch wind sector.”

GROW is contributing to the energy transition by working on the societal task of making the energy supply more sustainable. It carries out a coherent program of Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D), ranging from more fundamental research to the demonstration or rollout of offshore wind energy innovations. Research questions within the program include: How can the wind turbine installation process be improved further, at lower costs? How can the environmental impact of noise, for example, be limited or even be prevented? How can maintenance activities be carried out as effectively and efficiently as possible?

Sandor Gaastra: “Due to the intensive cooperation and knowledge sharing within GROW, with parties representing the entire offshore wind value chain, successful innovations can be realised relatively fast. GROW is therefore an interesting discussion partner for us and we are happy to formalise this cooperation.”

Chairman of GROW Peter Terium: “To achieve the energy and climate goals, the government, industry, knowledge institutions and civil society organizations must work together even more. That starts with innovation. This agreement helps us to keep up the pace of innovation. "
 

First offshore wind turbine using the Slip Joint connection successfully installed

30 September 2018

SJOR project tests innovative connection offshore: ready-to-use installation within an hour.

This morning the DOT wind turbine was successfully installed on its previously installed monopile using a Slip Joint connection. The Slip Joint is an alternative connection between an offshore wind turbine and its foundation. It works and looks like two paper cups upside down stacked on top of each other. The connection is based on friction, where the weight ensures a firm and stable connection. Installation is done by simply sliding the wind turbine over the monopile without the use of grout or bolts. This simple mechanism allows for cost reduction in material, equipment & personnel as well as allowing for a shorter installation time. It is the first time a slip-joint connection is deployed offshore. 

The DOT wind turbine is located in Eneco’s Princes Amalia Wind Park off the coast of IJmuiden, the Netherlands. The complete wind turbine was picked up in a single lift by Heerema’s DCV Aegir from the quay of Sif Rotterdam and transported towards its designated location. The installation of the wind turbine took within an hour in total, which is noticeably faster than usual installation. Jan van der Tempel, Director of DOT BV: “This offshore installation is a major milestone in the commercialisation of the Slip Joint.” The wind turbine will stay offshore for a year to test and collect data regarding this innovative connection after which the gathered data will be processed and used for validating lab tests by both TU Delft and TNO.

Find out more

David de Jager is GROW’s new Director

15 May 2018

As of today David de Jager succeeded Ernst van Zuijlen as Director of GROW. After being responsible for the programming of RD&D on offshore wind energy for about ten years (as Director of FLOW, TKI Wind op Zee, and GROW) Ernst will pitch into both product- and project development in the same area.

David de Jager comes from consultancy firm Ecofys and has almost 30 years of experience in renewable energy, notably on the interaction of technology development, policy design, and finance. Over the past decade he acted as Operating Agent for the IEA-RETD, an international research program of the International Energy Agency.

GROW consortium officially launched at Wind Days 2016

16 June 2016

The GROW consortium was officially launched at the WindDays 2016 conference held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This consortium of leading Dutch companies and knowledge institutes involved in the offshore wind industry has created an innovation programme that aims to reduce the costs of offshore wind energy.