Greater understanding of what really matters to the client

Question: what is the best integral design for wind turbine tower and foundation? Can the stiffness requirement be made less stringent? And if so, what is the effect on the foundation? How much excess capacity is there really? Windbase parametric and data-driven design provides a broad understanding of what the real demands must be. And 10 million foundation designs that show every possible detail.

Chris van der Ploeg (right on photo), computational design specialist, explains: “We are no longer looking for one single solution, but we advise clients on possibilities, influencing factors and sensitivity of solutions. Parametric designs allow us to create mathematical models of wind turbine foundations at different levels of reliability. New about this is the automated, data-driven and repetitive process. What do we see? By including all questions at the start, we do not have to make adjustments afterwards. That approach speeds up the design process. For the client, too.”

Study for Vattenfall

Commissioned by energy company Vattenfall, Windbase conducted a comprehensive study to investigate effects of tower design requirements on the foundation design. Chris: “We used a big data approach to consider all potentially relevant variants, both geotechnical and structural. Data visualizations provided insight into the impact of various design parameters on feasibility, cost and sustainability. Together we tried to find the best integral design of tower and foundation. This step included discussing supplier requirements. One question we reflected on was whether a less stringent stiffness requirement could lead to a more optimal combination of tower and foundation, in terms of money and durability.”

The study was conducted in close cooperation with the client. Fifteen different locations and five types of wind turbines were reviewed. The data were visualized in interactive dashboards. In interactive design meetings, we showed Vattenfall the consequences and feasibilities of design options. We also showed the weight of criteria in relation to impact.

Accelerated design process

Chris: “The insights gained may lead to different choices than those that seemed obvious at the start. All possible solutions are taken to the meeting instead of taking back questions to the design table. The interactive, joint selection process gives us a better understanding of what really matters to the client and gives us the opportunity to advise. Our innovative approach to data-driven design facilitates evidence-based decision making. This provides an early insight into cost and feasibility. And it provides more sustainable, efficient and optimized designs.”

Windbase has been an innovator of optimal turbine foundations for 40 years. Director Axel Jacobs (left on photo): “In this world with increasing pressure to use less material, we dare to be pioneers. Our advanced design methods and a data-driven, integrated approach do not always make things easy for us. But we think it is well worth the effort. After all, our goal is to get a more sustainable world.”