GDG Managing Director to deliver Lecture to Indian Geotechnical Society

Abstract:

Net Zero is currently one of the most discussed topics around the world, and renewable energy and in particular offshore wind farms are seen as a key part of achieving the Net Zero target. The scale and complexity of offshore seabed conditions in which windfarms are being developed have changed drastically over the last couple of decades. The seabed sites for early windfarms were less complex in terms of geological and geotechnical conditions but sites for recent and future windfarms are complex and have high variability. These factors invariability increase ground risks inherent with offshore windfarms development and are linked to foundations and cables which need to be designed to perform within the soil and rock conditions on site.

Geotechnics play a vital role at all stages of offshore windfarm development; from conceptual design to detailed design and installation. This talk presents the key stages in an offshore windfarm project where geotechnical input is critical and how a lack of proper geotechnical input can lead to ground risks later in a project. If ground risks are allowed to pass on in project stages, their impact and consequences on project cost and programme can be very high at later stages. Thus, ground risks should be identified as soon as possible and mitigated early on through site investigation, ground modelling and design.

This talk provides insight into soil classification and its impact on design, geohazards, foundations in rock, pile designs and seabed intervention methods for cable burial and installation. Most common pitfalls that are directly or indirectly link to geotechnics that lead to project cost and program delay are discussed and recommendations provided.