Let’s twist again

The GDP 2.0 project has taken a next step in testing its innovative monopile installation method. At the Ruijgoord site – well known from the earlier SIMOX project – the team tested the technology with a 2.2 m diameter, 26 m long monopile. This large-scale field test is crucial on the path to upscaling the technology for offshore applications.

To refresh your memory, Gentle Diving of Piles applies simultaneous low-frequency vertical and high-frequency torsional vibrations as the driving mechanism on the monopile.

13 October 2025

Learning from earlier tests

Diederick Nierstrasz from Ampelmann: “This latest test campaign builds on lessons learned from previous indoor- and outdoor trials. Mechanical components have been reinforced to withstand the high accelerations of torsional shaking. Hydraulic power has been increased, valves upgraded, and the control system refined to keep the shaker’s motion in sync with the pile’s behaviour, ensuring maximum driving efficiency.”

Diederick Nierstrasz (LinkedIn)

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Measuring every detail

The pile just before the drill, with a crane next to it. — Ready to go

With an extensive array of sensors – capturing motion, strain, load, penetration depth and even temperature – the team collected a lot of data. This will not only help improve the control system, but also refine the driveability model, paving the way towards the next development stage: driving monopiles of 4 m diameter in 2026.

The GDP technology involves vibrations in both vertical and torsional directions, but in this field test only torsional vibrations were applied during several trials. Starting with a penetration depth of 2 m, the ultimate trial reached almost 5 m without any problems, the risk of not retrieving the pile being the limiting factor in this penetration depth. Also, the measured soil disturbance measured with geophones were very promising in delivering on the promise of a significant reduction of installation noise.

GDP 2.0 project page

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Visitors followed the onshore test with interest

Members of the GDP project team proudly posing next to the monopile after driving it 2 meters deep. Later tests would bring it to 5 meter.

The torsional vibrations were also used to retrieve the monopile after each trial – again without any problems.

The tests were performed at the same site as for the tests for other GROW projects: SIMOX and VINEX. And even the monopile has been used during those tests. This demonstrates again the benefits of cooperation between stakeholders in the offshore wind industry and – thanks to the – Port of Amsterdam of easy access to a permitted onshore test location.

The Ruijgoord field test marks another essential step in demonstrating GDP’s potential as a faster, more efficient and scalable installation method for future offshore wind foundations.

Want to know more?

In 2022 we already published a GROW-to-GO edition about GDP. Feel free to read the article with lots of photos and listen to the podcast.