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Video: BIM’s role in world first ‘float and submerge’ foundations

A new video from BAM Nuttall explains how BIM was used in an operation to place five gravity base foundations, designed and built by Royal BAM Group for wind turbines off the coast of Blyth.

A world first, the gravity base foundations were installed towards the end of last year using a new “float and submerge” method.

Built in the Neptune dry dock of the Tyne they were floated into position off the coast of Northumberland before being submerged onto the seabed and further ballasted to provide the support structures that act as the foundations for the turbines.

The pioneering work was a major milestone for the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Wind Farm, which is being delivered by EDF Energy Renewables and is nearing completion.

Installed around 6.5km off the coast of Blyth, the turbines have a total generating capacity of 41.5MW and once operational will produce enough low carbon electricity to power around 34,000 homes. 

The wind farm will be EDF Energy Renewables’ second offshore wind farm construction following the Teesside wind farm off the North East coast at Redcar.

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