Hoffmann Green and the VALOREM Group announce the pouring of a wind turbine foundation made of 0% clinker concrete

On the site of the Plaine des Moulins wind farm in Jazeneuil (Vienne), the VALOREM Group worked alongside Hoffmann Green and its partners to achieve a world first: the pouring of a wind turbine foundation using 630 m³ of decarbonised concrete. The use of decarbonised concrete meant that 33 t of CO₂ was saved, i.e. 32% less than with traditional concrete, all without changing any construction methods.

It is a great achievement considering the demanding nature of the application, where pouring is carried out in a single operation, with a very high density of reinforcement to ensure the durability of this type of structure.

The Plaine des Moulins wind farm will have five wind turbines, each 180 m high at the blade tip, with a total installed capacity of 18 MW, and will generate around 42 GWh of green electricity, equivalent to 18.6% of the electricity consumption of the Haut Poitou community. The wind farm is scheduled for commissioning in early 2025.

Baptiste WALYN, Director of VALREA, VALOREM Group's construction subsidiary, underlines: "The VALOREM Group is delighted with this world first. Wind turbine foundations are often the target of misinformation. While steel-reinforced concrete is non-polluting for the soil, and while all wind turbine foundations are removed at the end of the park's life and the concrete recycled, we are also proving today that innovation can significantly reduce their carbon impact on the park's overall carbon footprint. The VALOREM Group is a company with a mission, resolutely committed to reducing all its impacts."

Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann, co-founders of Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, said: “We are very proud to be part of this world first: the pouring of the first wind turbine foundation using clinker-free decarbonised concrete. This achievement represents a key milestone for Hoffmann Green and strengthens our position on the wind energy market within the strategic renewable energy sector. This achievement is in line with our partnership signed with Biobuild in October 2022. It will enable us to promote eco-responsible construction methods while guaranteeing the quality of the foundations, as part of our common commitment to the ecological transition.”

Under the Energy and Climate Act, France aims to achieve a 33% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030. The renewable energy market therefore represents a key growth potential in which Hoffmann Green intends to strengthen its position. In the wind energy market segment, almost 300 projects are expected to be deployed in the medium term.

Many committed players

Prior to this historic premiere, five years of testing were required to assess the performance, durability and safety of H-UKR cement and concrete. The Appréciations Techniques d'Expérimentation (ATEx) issued by the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) are the result of this in-depth work, and cover complex technical issues such as dimensioning under heavy load, which is essential for wind turbine foundations.

In addition to the test phase, ongoing technical exchanges have been held with the various partners, from the dimensioning of the wind turbine foundation by CTE Wind to the calibration of the concrete formulation, and the performance of suitability tests and a prototype with the RBS and Lepine TP teams.

Mélaine Besse, Président of BioBuild, explained: "Reducing the carbon footprint of renewable energy projects is essential both for the image of our industries and for the ecological transition overall. As the company responsible for strategic studies and analyses, it was natural for BioBuild to join forces with Hoffmann, with whom we share a common vision in favour of eco-sustainable construction." 

Emmanuel Hamon, Senior site supervisor and Mickaël Leray, Branch Manager at Lépine TP – Groupe Angevin, commented: "The Groupe Angevin is involved in hydraulic civil engineering (waste water, drinking water) and civil engineering structures (PS, PI, small viaducts, wind farms, etc.). We immediately agreed to take part in this sustainable project in order to bring our expertise in the specific techniques required for this kind of project."

Frédéric Limouzin, Concrete Sector Manager at RBS - CMGO, stated: "The core business of Carrières et Matériaux du Grand Ouest (CMGO) is the operation of quarries and concrete plants, as well as the production, recovery, recycling and sale of sand and gravel. As the first link in the construction chain, we are delighted to have been associated with this iconic project in the Grand Ouest region, which promotes environment-friendly construction." 

Eric LEBRE, Sales Director of CHRYSO/GCP added: "The CHRYSO^®Enviromix ULC 5500 technology developed specifically for the H-UKR binder enabled RBS - CMGO to ensure quality and consistency of manufacture throughout the duration of the Jazeneuil wind turbine foundation project. Like Hoffmann, we are convinced that innovation has a major role to play in creating the materials of tomorrow." 

Thanh Binh Tran, Technical Director of CTE Wind concluded: "As an engineering and consultancy company specialised in the design of foundations for wind turbines, CTE Wind has designed almost 30 000 foundations for 2500 wind farms since it was founded. This first project using 0% clinker concrete, which reduces CO₂ emissions, represents a strategic turning point in the fast-growing renewable energy market."

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Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/17062024/hoffmann-green-and-the-valorem-group-announce-the-pouring-of-a-wind-turbine-foundation-made-of-0-clinker-concrete/