Installation of Precast Reinforced Concrete Piles as Part of the Expansion of Existing Industrial Buildings and Technical Infrastructure

The purpose of this presentation is to showcase the execution of piling works using the technology of precast reinforced concrete piles driven into the ground as part of the investment related to the construction of the Vestas Wind Turbine Assembly Plant in Szczecin, at 5 Brdowska Street. In the context of the growing ecological awareness in Europe, there has been an increasing trend in recent years towards the use of renewable energy sources. Simultaneously, one of the most significant and accessible areas for energy production is the sea—a place where the power of the wind carries substantial energy potential. Due to its very favorable geographical location, the city of Szczecin has the opportunity to become a significant point in the multi-stage process of erecting offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea region. The existing construction facilities on Brdowski Island, such as production halls and a gantry crane with a lifting capacity of 1400 tons, will be expanded and converted into the Wind Turbine Assembly Plant. The described infrastructure is located in an area with complex geological conditions, which both during the construction of the first facilities several years ago and now, presents challenges in designing and implementing intermediate foundations. This presentation includes a geological characterization of the Brdowski Island area and a description of the piling works in various parts of the future Wind Turbine Assembly Plant in an environment of organic soils with thicknesses of 5-7 meters across the entire work area. It describes cases where precast reinforced concrete piles are installed under new buildings as well as for the reinforcement of floors in existing halls. Another characterized stage of the piling works is the installation of piles within the underground network distributed throughout the island. The expansion of stormwater, sanitary sewage, and water supply networks is a challenging process in this case due to the possibility of vehicle movement during the operational phase within the plant area, which transports wind turbine nacelles, thereby exerting significant load on the ground. This translates into the required load-bearing capacity of the precast piles under compression.