Introducing Osonic
Osonic is an innovative and proven low-noise foundation installation technology designed for offshore wind monopiles. It provides an alternative to conventional impact hammer installation, eliminating the need for additional noise mitigation systems.
By fundamentally rethinking the foundation installation process, Osonic enables a simpler, quieter and more environmentally responsible installation with minimal impact on marine life.
How does Osonic work?
Osonic is a patent-pending multi-directional jetting installation technology. It uses high-powered water jets at the base of the monopile to reduce friction between the monopile wall and the surrounding soil. The jetting process temporarily lowers the soil resistance, allowing the monopile to penetrate into the seabed.
As a result, installation can be carried out by lowering the monopile directly from the crane hook of the installation vessel. The monopile simply sinks into the soil as it is lowered. No added force, just gravity. This enables a quieter installation process without the need for additional noise abatement, offering an alternative to conventional pile-driving.
Seamless integration offshore
Osonic is designed by an offshore wind developer to integrate with existing offshore installation setups.
The monopile is retrofitted with Osonic equipment, which consists of a starter element for the water supply, feeder pipes and a jetting ring equipped with precisely engineered nozzles.
Pressurized sea water is supplied from the installation vessel and transferred through the starter element into the monopile system, enabling controlled and efficient jetting at the pile tip.
>99% noise reduction
Osonic delivers a step-change reduction in underwater noise emissions compared to conventional foundation installation methods.
Field measurements were taken at 500, 750 and 1500 meters during the 2023 full-scale deployment at Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm in Germany, where three monopiles were successfully installed using Osonic, confirming:
- More than 40 dB reduction in broadband sound pressure levels compared to impact hammer piling
- Consistently lower noise levels across all measured frequencies
- No significant tonal components
Impact:
- >99% reduction in acoustic energy
- Significantly reduced environmental footprint
- Simplified permitting and regulatory approval
Further reading
Read more detailed information on measured acoustic emissions in our study
Read the study