Scour's threat to Europe's offshore wind farms is sinking in

A question mark hangs over the long-term stability of Europe’s shallow-water turbines, after research linked to the Horns Rev 1 wind farm found that high-powered currents were causing the stone “armour” around the base of monopile foundations to collapse.

Scour protection on this 20cm-diameter model of a Horns Rev 1 monopile foundation sank 7.7cm after an hour's testing at DTU
Scour protection on this 20cm-diameter model of a Horns Rev 1 monopile foundation sank 7.7cm after an hour's testing at DTU
Published 14 February 2012, 13:46Updated 23 September 2016, 11:27