Balmoral HexDefence
FAQs

In offshore wind farms, scour protection around monopiles or jacket structures is a critical element of the foundation design.

Monopiles are large steel tubes that are driven into the seabed to support wind turbines in offshore environments.

Jacket structures are one of several types of foundations used in offshore wind farms, with others including gravity-based structures and suction buckets. The choice of foundation type depends on factors such as water depth, seabed conditions and project economics. Jacket structures are particularly well-suited for deeper waters and in areas with more challenging seabed conditions.

The scour around the monopile or jacket structure can cause erosion of the seabed, potentially leading to instability of the foundation, wind turbine and power cables.

Scour protection measures for offshore wind turbines typically involve the installation of an additional layer of material around the base of the structure to prevent sediment erosion. This layer can be made of various materials, including rock, concrete or a specially designed geotextile fabric. The layer is placed on the seabed around the structure to dissipate the energy of the fluid flow and reduce the rate of erosion.

The choice of scour protection depends on several factors including water depths, sediment characteristics and expected flow velocities. In some cases, scour protection may not be necessary if the seabed is stable but in areas with high flow velocities or unstable sediment a robust scour protection system is essential to ensure the stability and longevity of the structure foundation and associated cables.

Balmoral HexDefence is a patented scour protection system that integrates seabed protection and flow reduction to reduce offshore operational costs. It prevents scour development and accelerated flow around monopile, jacket or suction bucket foundations, which is critical to cable protection system (CPS) design.

Balmoral HexDefence is a scour protection system manufactured from lightweight concrete or advanced composites panels that interlock and are externally profiled for rigidity and connection. The panels are custom-sized to fit foundation diameters in and feature integrated lifting and access points.

In simple terms, the Balmoral HexDefence scour protection installation procedure involves sinking the foundation, sleeving or surrounding it with HexDefence. Balmoral HexDefence can also be retrofitted to existing monopile structures.

Balmoral HexDefence scour protection system offers several key benefits, including the elimination of excessive rock operations and a non-invasive approach to the foundation structure.

The practical construction and streamlined installation method using existing vessel and handling equipment also make it easy to install without the need for additional vessels.

Quayside installation not only eliminates the need for additional installation vessels, but also guarantees the immediate activation of scour protection from the moment the foundation is installed.

The system is retrofittable and reduces accelerated and turbulent flow, improving the fatigue life of cables. It also significantly reduces the length of exposed cable, allowing burial closer to the structure meaning lesser chance of CPS and cable failure.

Additionally, the system is capable of use with antifouling and does not require special equipment for end-of-life recovery.