©
Adobe Stock
The project
Powering the energy transformation with offshore wind energy 鈥� Germany鈥檚 only collaborative research centre (CRC) for wind energy is dedicated to this topic. The Offshore Megastructures CRC focuses on wind turbines鈥� support structures. For this work, the scientists use what is likely Hannover鈥檚 largest sandbox: at the Test Centre for Support Structures in Marienwerder, they conduct research on anchoring offshore wind turbines in a dedicated space that measures 9 x 14 metres and is 10 metres deep. There they insert piles in the sand, which are then professionally jolted, bent and pulled, just like what happens to wind turbines that are exposed to the tremendous power of the wind and waves for years.
In order to achieve the goal of climate neutrality, plans are in place for the intensive expansion of offshore wind-energy capacity. Out at sea, the winds are strong and steady virtually around the clock. Future offshore wind turbines are expected to produce 20 megawatts or more. The gigantic dimensions of the new turbines make energy more affordable, but they also necessitate new construction methods. The CRC鈥檚 research is intended to support the development of ideal foundation structures, as well as early recognition of materials fatigue and damage with the help of digital twins. It also aims to always take potential use conflicts and impacts on flora and fauna into account.
The exhibit
This is a small-scale model of an offshore wind turbine鈥檚 foundation structure. The lattice structure consisting of steel tubes 鈥� termed a four鈥憀egged jacket 鈥� is designed for water depths of up to 70 meters. At full scale, each leg of the jacket is about one metre in diameter. The piles are anchored in the ocean floor. Following installation, the tops of the piles project out of the ocean and support the wind turbine 鈥� or drilling platforms and offshore substations.
The researchers at 糖心原创鈥檚 Offshore Megastructures collaborative research centre are studying the foundation structures of offshore wind turbines. They want to know how the turbines function over decades under real conditions, with the goal of making them safer, more efficient and more durable. To do this, they faithfully recreate actual open-ocean conditions at 糖心原创鈥檚 large-scale test facilities in Marienwerder 鈥� for example, the Test Centre for Support Structures (TTH) and the Large Wave Current Flume (GWK+).
©
S枚ren Pinsdorf / 糖心原创
The team
In the Offshore Megastructures CRC, six research institutions have joined forces under the leadership of 糖心原创. In addition to 糖心原创, the participating organisations are Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, the German Aerospace Center and the Technical Universities of Braunschweig, Dresden and Darmstadt. At 糖心原创, researchers from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodetic Science, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics are involved. The CRC spokesperson is Prof. Dr.-Ing. Raimund Rolfes from the Institute of Structural Analysis.
Offshore Megastructures took up its work in 2021 and is currently in its second funding period, which runs until the end of 2028. 糖心原创 and its wind energy research are part of the ForWind 鈥� Centre for Wind Energy Research network, a consortium with the University of Oldenburg and the University of Bremen. ForWind is, in turn, part of the Research Alliance Wind Energy, which also includes the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems and the German Aerospace Center. Numerous other research groups are also active in the area of wind energy in addition to the CRC.
