Welcome To EMI

EMI is a new innovation for installing metmasts offshore whereby the monopile foundation and metmast are installed in one single operation. EMI has been designed with respect to sea life and the environment while cutting costs substantially.

Eco-friendly technology

With EMI, no piles need to be driven for fixing the foundation to the seabed. This makes the installation very eco-friendly. The structure is being transported horizontally on a barge and upended to vertical position by a special frame. Next, the structure is lowered to the sea bottom where pumps are used to create an underpressure. In this way the lower part of the structure is suck into the sea floor. This suction anchor technology keeps the structure at its place.

EMI makes the impact to sea life a lot smaller compared to more traditional methods. Furthermore, the structure can also be relocated very easily, making the EMI a true sustainable concept.

Economical solution

Besides the innovative and eco-friendly technology, the concept is also very economical.

The EMI can be installed much quicker and cheaper. An expensive installation ship is no longer required for placing metmasts at sea. Neither costly driving equipment on board. A standard barge, equipped with the upending frame designed by Mercon and ALE, is all that is needed. In this way, EMI reduces the costs of installation considerably. By introducing this innovative but low cost solution, Mercon and ALE want to contribute to offshore wind becoming a commercially viable source of energy in the future.

New concept but proven technology

EMI is a new concept in offshore wind but already proven technology in the offshore Oil & Gas industry.

Developed by Mercon and ALE in 2010 and that same year awarded with a project by Shell UK and NAM. In September 2011, a first Riser Access Tower was installed using the EMI principle. Next to lower costs of installation, Shell and NAM choose this installation concept also because of the ease of installation and possibility of relocation.

For this project, engineering company KCI took care of the basic engineering and detailed design. KCI is again on board as engineering partner for the introduction of EMI in the Offshore wind market.