The Norwegian shipping, oil and gas and renewables giant, which took a majority stake in next-generation turbine foundation pioneer Universal Foundation last year, hopes to have a first prototype turbine based on its suction-bucket foundation design in the water off Denmark next year. A pilot project of five to ten machines is on the cards for as early as 2014.
Two of Universal’s new-look foundations, which marry elements of proven monopile, gravity-base structure and suction-anchor technology, are being fabricated at Harland and Wolff’s Queen’s Island yard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
