Foundations for two new wind turbines

Dutch contractor H4A is building two new wind turbines at the Beaulieu site in Kruisem on behalf of energy company ENGIE. For H4A, we carried out the sheet piling, gravel cores and earth retaining screw piles for the construction of the wind turbines.

Before the screw piles could be installed, Soetaert first had to partially dam a pond with a sheet pile wall. Next, we realised 40 foundation piles per wind turbine, including 10 vertical piles, 15 piles at an angle of 5° and 15 piles at an angle of 11° in two circles. The length of the piles ranged from 15 to almost 18 metres with a diameter of 460/660 mm.

To install earth retaining screw piles, we first screw a drill head into the ground, which moves and compacts the soil. Once at depth, a reinforcement cage is inserted. Finally, when turning back the drill head, we add concrete.

In addition to the earth retaining screw piles, Soetaert will install another 252 cemented gravel cores. This is needed for the temporary working platform on which the large crane will stand to assemble the wind turbines.