FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
In many conversations, we encounter recurring questions. Perhaps one of the questions you have asked yourself is also among them. If there is something else you would like to know, or if you would simply like to talk to us, we would be happy if you would contact us.
Due to their design, our foundations require a significantly lower proportion of concrete. The first precast foundation we built for an Enercon E-115 (149m hub height) required a total of 405m³ of concrete. The conventional cast-in-place concrete foundation including the blinding layer would have required 1382m³ of concrete. As a result, 70,69% concrete could be saved. For other plant/tower combinations, the savings may vary. However, all Anker Foundations foundations use significantly less concrete than conventional cast-in-place concrete foundations.
The CO2 savings can be directly attributed to the reduced consumption of concrete/cement in our foundations. Global cement production and the subsequent use of the cement as concrete is responsible for around 8% of global CO2 emissions. One of the most modern cement plants in Europe, the cement plant “Rüdersdorf” near Berlin, emits 650kg of CO2 per ton of cement produced. An cast-in-place concrete foundation for an Enercon E-115 with a hub height of 149m requires 553t of cement. This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 359,45t. By contrast, the comparable precast foundation from Anker Foundations requires only 162t of cement. This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 105,3t. Accordingly, the use of our precast foundation avoided CO2 emissions of 254,15t. This corresponds to the annual CO2 emissions of approx. 32 citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany. However, these figures only reflect the directly measurable CO2 savings due to the reduced use of materials. Further savings potential is created by the improved and shortened construction site logistics and the ease of transport.
Our foundations are currently certified via TÜV Nord. We receive a type certification from TÜV Nord based on the DIBt guideline for wind turbines. We have already received TÜV certificates for a number of foundation variants. If you are planning a wind turbine for which we do not yet have a certificate, we will of course develop an appropriate foundation for you and have it certified accordingly. The certification of a new foundation adapted to your wind turbine takes about 4 weeks. In addition to certification by TÜV Nord, we can also obtain certificates from other classification societies such as DNV GL or according to IEC 61400.
The price for our foundation solution is determined on a project-specific basis depending on the type of plant, the tower variant used and the project location. Experience shows that our foundations are cheaper than comparable cast-in-place concrete foundations at many locations. For a detailed quotation, please let us know the number, the exact types of turbines and the project location. Based on this information, we will be happy to prepare an individual offer for you.
If you are planning a wind turbine for which we have already certified a foundation, we need approx. 6 to 8 weeks to deliver a foundation to you, depending on our production capacities. If you are planning a wind turbine for which we cannot yet offer a certified foundation, we usually need 3 to 4 months to obtain certification and deliver the foundation to the project site.
Since our foundations do not require a blinding layer, only the excavation pit needs to be dug out and straightened. Moreover, no special construction machinery or fasteners are needed at the construction site.
Our precast foundations are suitable for all soil classes. We can also easily implement uplift protection. Pile foundations can also be easily implemented with ANKER foundations, if they are necessary at all. Experience has shown that pile foundations can be avoided in most cases by using our precast foundations. Dispensing with pile foundations helps to further reduce project costs.
We can offer our precast foundations for all towers available on the market from all plant manufacturers. They are compatible with tubular steel, concrete, hybrid and even wooden towers.
We take care of the transport of the foundations to the construction site and the planning required for this. Our precast foundations can be transported by conventional trucks. We need about 40 truck transports per foundation. Heavy transports are not necessary. Depending on the project location, the majority of the delivery distance can also be made by rail or ship.
We offer a customary warranty of 5 years according to VOB or the country-specific warranty for cast-in-place concrete foundations. Our precast foundations are designed and certified for a service life of 30 years.
No. The foundation itself is maintenance-free. Only the tower connection must be maintained, as is the case with cast-in-place concrete foundations. The maintenance intervals and efforts are identical to the maintenance of cast-in-place concrete foundations.
Precast foundations from Anker Foundations can be removed or dismantled very easily. There is no need for time-consuming and cost-intensive crushing of the foundations with jackhammers or blasting, as is the case with cast-in-place concrete foundations. The individual precast elements can be easily disassembled and lifted out of the excavation pit by crane. They can even be reused elsewhere.
