NGI contributes with geotechnical expertise to support successful installation of 66 Jacket Foundations at Ørsted’s Greater Changhua 2b and 4 Offshore Wind Farms

The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute’s (NGI) advanced geotechnical and digital instrumentation supported the installation campaign, contributing to precise, efficient foundation installation in collaboration with Ørsted and suction technology provider Framo.

Comprehensive work from NGI

NGI delivered a comprehensive scope of work for the project, including geotechnical know-how, real-time monitoring, and technical support throughout the installation campaign. These efforts supported the efficient installation of suction bucket jackets, offering an alternative to traditional pile driving methods. 

Long-Term Commitment to Offshore Wind in Taiwan
NGI’s involvement in Taiwan’s offshore wind sector extends back several years. Through earlier work on pile foundation projects in Changhua, NGI helped build the expertise behind today’s large-scale installations. 

With the successful installation of suction bucket jacket foundations at Greater Changhua 2b and 4, NGI has now supported the successful installation of more than 630 suction buckets globally, making NGI one of the most experienced companies in this field.

“This has been a quiet and efficient installation process,” said Egil Solhjell, Project Manager at NGI. “Being part of this successful collaboration from the early planning stages helped us provide valuable support to Ørsted and the wider project team, contributing to a well-coordinated jacket installation campaign.” 

Instrumentation and Geotechnics

NGI’s work on the project shows how geotechnics and digital instrumentation go hand-in-hand to improve installation reliability. “This is really the essential part of the value we bring,” says Solhjell, and continues: “Our cross-over competence and the control system that utilizes our experience and our fundamental understanding of the installation process, is essential to this success.”

The team deployed a robust monitoring and verification system that provided real-time data on soil response and foundation behaviour during suction embedding. These insights supported precise execution and consistent performance across all 66 jackets. 

By combining geotechnical experience and digital solutions, NGI supported:

• Effective and predictable installation, even in complex soil conditions
• Silent, low-impact operations without the use of pile driving
• Real-time decision-making through advanced monitoring and data integration
• Robust foundation performance, backed by validated geotechnical models

Framo’s pump systems and NGI’s geotechnical expertise in close collaboration

Located 35 to 60 kilometres off the coast of Changhua County, the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms will, once operational, supply clean energy to approximately one million Taiwanese households, making a significant contribution to Taiwan’s renewable energy targets.

The suction bucket technology used in this project was operated using Framo’s proprietary pump systems. NGI acted as the key partner with our geotechnical and instrumentation know-how from early planning through final installation.

“We are proud to have contributed to this landmark project,” said Thor Alexander Larsen, Project Manager at Framo. “The successful installation of all 66 jackets demonstrates the reliability of our suction technology and the strength of our collaboration with Ørsted and NGI. 

Enabling more ambitious projects in the future

This project follows the earlier success at Ørsted’s Borkum Riffgrund 2 offshore wind farm in Germany, where 20 suction bucket jackets were installed in 2018. That experience laid the groundwork for scaling up to this much larger campaign in Taiwan.

“This project exemplifies what’s possible when innovative engineering and long-term collaboration come together,” Solhjell added. “We are proud to support Ørsted and Framo in advancing sustainable energy infrastructure, and we look forward to enabling even more ambitious offshore projects in the future.”

As offshore wind accelerates across Asia and the world, NGI continues to lead in delivering trusted, science-based solutions that enhance safety, performance, and environmental sustainability in the offshore energy sector.