Zustimmungen im Einzelfall für Grout-Verbindungen in Tragstrukturen für die Offshore-Windenergie

Approvals for grouted joints in offshore substructures

By 2030 nearly 30 % of electricity shall be gained by renewable energy. The offshore wind energy plays a significant role, so that in the next 15 years nearly 30 gigawatt of electricity shall be installed offshore. Currently, several offshore wind projects are erected in the North and Baltic Sea, but most of the projects are consented and wait for the final 'go'. One 'hot' topic is the question of a reliable connection between the driven piles and the offshore substructures. The grouted joint as a tube-to-tube-connection is typically used for this connection. Missing national offshore guidelines for design and construction of grouted joints and grout materials require site specific approvals in the individual case for the type of construction and the type of material. By this, it shall be assured that design and material comply with German guidelines and that national requirements regarding production, installation and durability are fulfilled. Even if the approval process prolongs the duration until consent, finalized approval processes show an increase in quality of the structural design and reliability of grout materials for offshore structures. In this paper, the strategy of an approval in the individual case is described and recommendations are presented.