Van Oord and AdBm Technologies, with support from TNO, have demonstrated a new system for reducing underwater noise during pile driving work for offshore wind turbine foundations.
The AdBm Noise Mitigation System (NMS) uses acoustic resonators designed and produced by AdBm Technologies to reduce the noise from pile driving.
This results in less disturbance for marine mammals near construction sites.
The partners said specific frequencies that produce the most noise can be targeted by the technology.
The NMS deployment system was designed and built at Van Oord and works as if it were “window blinds that can be put up and down easily”, the company said.
Testing showed that the NMS, in combination with a big bubble curtain, meets Dutch and Belgian standards for noise emissions at sea.
Van Oord now plans to commission the NMS for work on the Borssele 3&4 and 5 offshore wind farms.
Funding for the system and the related trials came from a renewable energy grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and was also supported by TKI Wind op Zee.
Source:renews
