AkzoNobel Provides Coatings for Large Offshore Wind Farm

AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, Netherlands) has supplied protective coatings to the world’s largest offshore wind farm, which is about to become operational off the U.K. coast with all 165 of its 8MW turbines.

Located around 89 kilometers off the east coast of England, Hornsea 2 is reportedly due to be up and running by mid-2022. It has the capacity to produce more than 1.3 gigawatts of energy — enough to power over 1.3 million homes.

The foundations of all the turbines (which tower 204 meters above sea level) have been coated with Interzone 954 from the company’s international brand. Originally designed for the demanding protection of offshore oil and gas structures, the product has now also become the go-to solution for offshore wind farms.

Simon Parker, director of AkzoNobel’s Marine and Protective Coatings business, says, “As the world moves to a greener and more sustainable future, it’s essential that vital infrastructure isn’t just fit for purpose, but is equipped for the long term as well. That’s where Interzone 954 plays such a vital role.”

Protecting turbines enables them to continuously operate in the most challenging locations. Offshore wind farms are particularly susceptible to atmospheric corrosion due to the high humidity and chloride content in the air. The splash zone of each wind turbine, which is intermittently wet and dry due to tides and waves, is the most prone to corrosion.

According to AkzoNobel, Interzone 954 has a unique blend of properties, including excellent barrier protection, exceptional abrasion resistance and high film build. It’s also resistant to a wide range of chemicals.

Four years in the planning, the 462 square kilometer Hornsea 2 project follows on from the successful 2021 completion of Hornsea 1, which is the previous holder of the world’s biggest offshore wind farm title. Its 174 7MW turbines, also coated by AkzoNobel, reportedly supply power to around a million homes in the U.K.