Offshore Foundations | Advances in Rotor Blades
Wind Turbine Towers | Wind Turbine Bearings | Ports & Infrastructure
26 - 28 August, 2025
| Bremen, Germany
Focus Day: MP-TP Connections, Monday 26 August 2024
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Registration and Welcome Coffee
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Who is Who
Have your photo with your business card pinned to our popular 'Who’s Who' wall and find out who is already onsite
10:00 am - 10:15 am
Chairperson's opening remarks
10:15 am - 10:45 am
How to make new connections and influence an industry
- The challenge with large scale connections in offshore wind
- The options available to the industry
- Takeaways from the connections workshop
- Examples of past industry wholesale concept changes
- The possibility of a TP-less world
- Visions for the future
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Z flange - novel bolted flange foundation connection
- Design philosophy (L flange limitations and design solutions)
- Case study results
- Key benefits (design, procurement, fabrication, installation)
- Challenges
11:15 am - 11:45 am
Ultrasonic (UT) Inspection of Bolted Connections in Operations
- Introduction bolts pre-tension measurement via UT
- UT measurement accuracy and tolerance criteria – what is acceptable?
- Case study presentation from the RWE Offshore Operations Fleet
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Refreshment Break and Networking
Which connections are up to the challenge?
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm
Grouted connections - Open Discussion
Are you rather pro or con grouted connections? Or can’t you decide at all? Where
do you see benefits or potential issues? What about the following topics and latest
developments?
• Cracking and fracture
• Grout slippage
• Conical grouted solutions
• Installation time and vessel requirements
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm
Bolted (L-)Flange connections - pros and cons
• Increasing MP-TP bolt sizes
• Fabrication tolerance
• Increasing time and efforts for fabrication, installation and maintenance
• Supply chain issues and standards for new designs
1:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Networking Lunch
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Slip joints – pros and cons
• Level of technology readiness
• Commercial aspects
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
C1 wedge connections – pros and cons
• Onshore and offshore testing results
• Installation time and design capacities
3:45 pm - 3:50 pm
Chairperson’s closing remarks
3:50 pm - 4:15 pm
Refreshement & Networking
4:15 pm - 4:15 pm
End of Focus Day
In this session different type of connections will be discussed. We will have a look on different design approaches and certification routes, technology readiness, aspects from installation and maintenance, including HSE aspects. Each connection type will be represented in two short presentations. One speaker will highlight the benefits of each solution whereas the second one will take over the role of the devils advocate to discuss questions and potential limitations. Each pro & con session will be followed by a Q&A session.
Interactive Workshops
4:15 pm - 6:00 pm
WORKSHOP A: Designing for Longevity: Life Extension in Offshore Wind Foundations and Substations
Explore advanced design strategies to maximize the lifespan of offshore wind structures,
emphasizing sustainable practices, innovative solutions, and practical examples.
• Design Optimization: Maximizing lifespan for offshore foundations and substations
• Circular Economy: Sustainable design for offshore wind
• Repairability: Designing for easy maintenance
• Upgradability: Creating adaptable offshore structures
•Case studies and best practices
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
WORKSHOP B: Floating offshore wind foundations for turbines and substations alike
Examine various technologies and approaches within a floating wind farm, focusing on
synergies, distinct supply chains, and current challenges.
• Explore different technologies and approaches within a single floating wind farm.
• Are there mainly synergies or totally different supply chains and bottle necks?
• O&M strategies (in-situ or tow-to-port)
