wind
Monopile
Single large-diameter steel cylinder driven into the seabed, the dominant offshore wind foundation type up to ~50m water depth.
A monopile is a single steel cylinder (typically 6–11m diameter, 60–100m length, 1,500–2,500 tonnes) driven into the seabed to support an offshore wind turbine. They are the dominant foundation type for water depths up to ~50m and the lowest-cost option where geology allows. Beyond ~50m, jacket structures and floating foundations become more economic. 2026 monopiles installed worldwide exceed 8,000 units.
Related terms
- Capacity factor — Ratio of actual energy generated over a period to the maximum possible at namepl…