Van Oord and AdBm Technologies have demonstrated the new AdBm Noise Mitigation System (NMS).
According to the parties, the system has proved that, in combination with only a single big bubble curtain, it meets Belgian and Dutch standards for noise emissions at sea.
As a result, Van Oord will deploy the AdBM NMS for construction of plots 3, 4 and 5 at the Borssele offshore wind project, as well as on future wind farms.
The system uses special acoustic resonators which reduce the noise from pile driving, the Dutch company said. As a result, specific frequencies can be targeted which produce the most noise.
The deployment system, designed and built at Van Oord, works like there are window blinds that can be put up and down easily. The NMS was tested on five piles.
Demonstration analysis was performed by itap GmbH and TNO, and funding was provided by a Renewable Energy Grant from RVO.nl, and supported by TKI Wind op Zee.
The developers said they see possibilities to further optimize the system in the future.
“We are very pleased both with the performance of our noise mitigation system, and with Van Oord’s decision to use our technology on their upcoming Borssele project,” said Dr. Mark S. Wochner , President & CEO of AdBm.
“This technology is now ready for the market, and another exciting outcome of this demonstration is that we have also gained numerous insights into how to further increase the system’s performance.”