Digital design innovation for a north sea energy island

An offshore wind park is being created in the North Sea, 100 km east of the Danish coastline. The creation of an ‘energy island’ is an important element of the plans, acting to distribute the energy from the wind turbines to the coast. Two design options for the island were under consideration.

Project facts

Client: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Location: Denmark
Challenge: Create an alternative concept design of the island based on rubble-mound coastal structures.
Solution: Parametric modelling used to explore and compare many different designs to inform the most effective and suitable solution.
Date: 2020 - 2021

The challenge

Haskoning was asked to design an island based on a rubble mound. The design would be compared with caisson-based solutions designed by other firms.

The solution

Parametric modelling was used to explore and compare many different designs to inform the most effective and suitable solution. The process revealed numerous challenges and opportunities.

Modelling revealed that one side of the island would be the most heavily attacked by the harsh conditions of the North Sea. Haskoning identified that two stages of defence would deliver the most effective protection for the island; an approach which reduced the size of onshore defences.

First, an offshore emerged breakwater would partly dissipate the waves, with the island protected by secondary, onshore revetments.

Extensive modelling showed that in normal conditions the breakwater would dissipate most of the waves, creating a shallow, sheltered channel between the breakwater and the island.

The result

The client was pleased with the level of detail and innovation demonstrated in the proposed solutions, and the open manner of discussion and communication concerning the challenges and opportunities.