GROW-to-GO

Reimagining the offshore energy system 
Offshore wind delivers large volumes of renewable electricity, but the system behind it must be able to cope with mismatches between supply and demand. FlexH2 addresses this challenge head-on. Guus Pemen, Dongsheng Yang of TU Eindhoven and Yin Sun of both Shell and TU Eindhoven explain the core difficulty and introduce you to the FlexH2 demonstrator, a big step towards sustainable energy systems that are more flexible, efficient, and integrated. 
Have a look at our web magazine at https://grow-to-go.nl/202603-flexh2

All preparations for the first offshore demonstration of the Vibrojet® monopile installation technique are in full swing when we meet Hein van Opstal, Paula van Lieshout and Pierre Bouchet of GBM Works. In ‘Go With the Flow’ you learn more about the technology, challenges and collaboration behind this promising technology for quieter, more efficient monopile installation at the Mammoet shipyard in Schiedam.
Have a look at our web magazine at https://grow-to-go.nl/202601-simple3

Visiting the SIMOX Demonstration Site
Get an update on the SIMOX project. David de Jager visited the specially prepared SIMOX demonstration site at the Port of Amsterdam to meet two key people involved in the project: Ahmed Elkadi and Mark Post, both from Deltares. They tell you more about the activities of researchers and industry partners, who are installing and testing monopiles, side by side, using several innovative installation techniques. 
Have a look at our web magazine at https://grow-to-go.nl/202508-simox-ii
And have a look at our short movie about the SIMOX Demonstration Site at https://grow-offshorewind.nl/newsitem/innovation-at-work

Removal of old monopiles
At the end of a wind farm’s lifetime, everything has to be removed. Current practice is to cut the monopiles that support the wind turbines several meters below the seabed. In the second Hydraulic Pile Extraction Scale Tests (HyPE-ST 1.2) project, Anderson Peccin da Silva and Alba Rodríguez Piedrabuena, both from Deltares, are investigating a new hydraulic pile extraction technology. In ‘Under pressure’, they tell you more about this promising decommissioning technology.
Have a look at our web magazine at https://grow-to-go.nl/202507-under-pressure

Increasing the reliability of rotor blades
In the last two decades, the length of the rotor blades for offshore wind turbines has increased significantly. Where we started with blade lengths ranging between 30 and 40 metres, we are now reaching 110-120 metres in length per blade, and this may go up towards an impressive 150 metres in the future. Despite efforts to improve control over the manufacturing process, defects still occur during production and operation that may lead to blade failures. This can significantly affect the wind farm's power output and repair costs. Therefore, the sector is looking for more reliable blades that can cope with the immense forces. Reason for David de Jager to visit Michiel Hagenbeek and Wim Castricum of TNO to dive into the world of rotor blades. Michiel runs blade models in a digital twin; Wim crawls inside actual blades to apply the sensors.
 
Have a look at our web magazine at https://grow-to-go.nl/202504-blade-runner-and-blade-crawler