Project MiCorFe
Microbially influenced corrosion of Fe and possible corrosion protection measures in monopiles of offshore wind turbines (MiCorFe)
Iron corrosion is a global problem that causes significant economic damage every year, with microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) accounting for a significant proportion of this. The offshore wind energy industry is particularly affected by MIC, as the conditions inside the foundations of wind turbines, known as monopiles, are particularly favourable for MIC. Since wind turbines have a relatively short service life of around 30 years, reducing MIC and extending service life has a direct impact on the economic efficiency and sustainability of offshore wind turbines. Currently, there is no proven, economical and environmentally friendly way to curb MIC. In addition, the microbially corrosive conditions inside monopiles have been relatively little researched.
The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), is therefore conducting in-situ tests with commonly used structural steel at various depths of the monopile at the FINO3 research platform. In addition, test series are being carried out in the laboratories of Kiel University of Applied Sciences and the project partner GEOMAR. These serve, among other things, as preliminary investigations for further in-situ tests. In the further course of the project, alternative materials to conventional structural steel and various coatings will be investigated for their MIC resistance.
In order to examine the environmental parameters, water samples are taken from the relevant depths and the microbial communities in the water and on the incubated steel samples are examined and evaluated. The corrosion products are examined using 3D and scanning electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffractometry. The gravimetrically determined corrosion rates provide a measure of the corrosive conditions. A corrosion model for MIC inside monopiles is determined from the collected complex parameters. Furthermore, material alternatives to the commonly used steel and various coatings are examined for the microbially corrosive conditions in the monopile. The aim is to prevent local microbial corrosion without polluting the water column with toxic substances.
Other components of the project include the investigation of offshore coatings for their MIC resistance and the calculation of service life based on the knowledge acquired by the industry partners: Krebs Korrosionsschutz GmbH and JBO Engineering Group GmbH. This project thus makes a fundamental contribution to increasing the service life of offshore wind turbines.
Project sponsor:
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Funding code:
03EE3082A
Duration:
01.07.2023 – 30.06.2026
Funding amount:
approx. €1,036,000 in total, €347,000 own contribution
Contact information and consortium management:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jana Schloesser
MiCorFe - Team:
HAW Kiel / Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum FH Kiel GmbH
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jana Schloesser
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Publications und Presentations
Skottke, C., Solterbeck, C.-H., Adam-Beyer, N., Schmidt, M., Perner, M., Niepel, C., Börner, A., Haake, G. und Schloesser, J (2025) In-situ investigation of the influence of corrosion protection systems on microbially influenced corrosion on offshore monopiles [lecture] EUROMAT25, 14. - 18.09.2025, Granada, Spain.
Adam-Beyer, N., Skottke, C., Schmidt, M., Solterbeck, C.-H., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Haake, G., Schloesser, J. und Perner, M. (2025) Possible protection measures against microbially influenced corrosion on the inside of foundation structures of offshore wind power systems [lecture] FEMS MICRO Milan 2025. 14.07. - 17.07.2025, Milan, Italy.
Skottke, C., Solterbeck, H.-C., Adam-Beyer, N., Schmidt, M., Perner, M., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Börner, A. und Schloesser, J. (accepted) Analysis of microbially induced iron corrosion inside monopiles of offshore wind turbines - Methods for in situ experiments. Ship Technology Research
Adam-Beyer, N., Skottke, C., Schmidt, M. , Solterbeck, C. H., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Haake, G., Schloesser, J. und Perner, M. (2025) Microbial iron corrosion and possible corrosion protection measures in monopiles of offshore wind power systems. [lecture] In: Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology. 23. - 26.03.2025, Bochum, Germany
Skottke, C., Solterbeck, C.-H., Adam-Beyer, N., Schmidt, M., Perner, M., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Haake, G. und Schloesser, J. (2024) Analysis of microbially induced iron corrosion of offshore wind power plants. [lecture] 119. Hauptversammlung der Schiffbautechnischen Gesellschaft. 20. - 22.11.2024, Hamburg, Germany
Adam-Beyer, N., Skottke, C., Schmidt, M. , Solterbeck, C. H., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Haake, G., Schloesser, J. und Perner, M. (2024) Microbial iron corrosion and possible corrosion protection measures in the monopile of offshore wind power systems. [lecture] IBBS19 (International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation Society), 09. - 12.09.2024, Berlin, Germany
Skottke, C., Adam-Beyer, N., Solterbeck, C. H., Schmidt, M., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Haake, G., Perner, M. und Schloesser, J. (2024) Analysis of microbially induced corrosion inside monopiles of offshore platforms. [poster] IBBS19 (International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation Society), 09. - 12.09.2024, Berlin, Germany
Skottke, C., Solterbeck, C.-H., Adam-Beyer, N., Schmidt, M., Perner, M., Niepel, C., Niepel, U., Haake, G. und Schloesser, J. (2024) Analysis of microbiologically induced iron corrosion of offshore platforms [lecture] EUROCORR, 01. - 05.09.2024, Paris, France.