iMarine’s Post

HBK - Hottinger Brüel & Kjær first installation in an offshore wind turbine was in 2003 and there have been many since, from jackets to gravity bases to monopile structures. In the graph below, we look at a typical installation: A monopile with a condition monitoring system in the foundation, designed primarily for short-term (a few years) measurements of the critical areas of the foundation. The same system will continue to operate well beyond this and, in any case, the costs are the same regardless of the length of the measurement campaign. Contact me for more information! #floatingwind #netzero #offshorewind #renewableenergy #infrastructuremonitoring #energy #construction #infrastructure #offshore #infrastructuredevelopment #windenergy #waveenergy #tidalenergy #solarenergy #engineering #renewableenergy #climatechange #powergeneration

Floating wind turbines move (of course) and so do the electrical cables connected to them. This creates potential for interference between mooring lines that keep turbines in place and the dynamic cables for electricity collection. It also creates potential strain in the cables in operation. This work led by Juan-Andrés Pérez-Rúa funded by TotalEnergies in the DTU-TotalEnergies Excellence Centre of Clean Energy (DTEC) collaboration is a first to look at these dynamics in the context of design of wind farm electric collection systems. Very relevant work as the floating wind industry seeks to scale from small commercial projects to GW-scale wind farms of 50-100 turbines.

We are happy to share our latest article, now published in Renewable Energy [Elsevier, In Press]. In this work, we tackle the complex challenge of optimizing inter-array dynamic cable networks for Floating Offshore Wind Farms. Our approach introduces innovative modeling techniques that integrate engineering constraints from both hydrodynamic and thermal analysis, which significantly differentiate this problem from its fixed-bottom counterpart. We further embed these models into a neighborhood search heuristic to enhance tractability and efficiency. The experimental results highlight that introducing new degrees of freedom - such as coupling dynamic and static cables and allowing non-linear trenching - can lead to reduced investment costs, albeit with a significant increase in model complexity. We invite you to explore the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dJuawDTZ Katherine Dykes, David Verelst, Rasmus Sode Lund, and Asger Bech Abrahamsen Likewise, thanks to LARS OBERBECK @Matthieu Hochet jean-philippe roques and Arsim Ahmedi for their their inputs along the execution of this project. #MathematicalModeling #NumericalOptimization #FloatingWindFarms #HydrodynamicAnalysis #RenewableEnergy

Approval in Principle (AiP) on SWACH We are very pleased to share that our foundation design for floating offshore wind, SWACH, has been awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate from DNV. The achievement is made through significant design development, including hybrid model testing and extensive coupled analyses, and again shows Sevan's capability of bringing innovative floater designs to the market. The SWACH (Small Waterplane Area Cylindrical Hull) is based on our proven characteristic cylindrical design, adjusted, and optimized to accommodate a 15MW turbine. In addition to OEM requirements, fabrication friendliness, mass production, scalability and transportation efficiency have been key parameters through the development process. The AiP certificate marks an important milestone in the development of our floater designs, and specifically towards the renewable market of floating offshore wind. This is an encouraging step for Sevan and Seatrium's continuous work towards the energy transition. #floatingoffshorewind #offshorewind #WeAreSeatrium #SevanDWT #SevanDeepwaterTechnology #SWACH

🎉Today, Principle Power unveils two new center column designs: WindFloat TC (tubular, center column) and the WindFloat FC (flat panel, center column). The new center column designs complement our existing perimeter column designs, WindFloat T and WindFloat F and share the same 4th generation design heritage and benefits: ⚡ Smart Hull Trim system to maximize annual energy production and reduce loads ⭐ Fatigue-resilient architecture optimized for large wind turbines 🎯 Compact footprint and shallow wind turbine integration draft for maximum compatibility with infrastructure 🧱 Modular “block” subcomponent philosophy for high flexibility and compatibility with existing supply chains Julian Arrillaga Costa, Chief Executive Officer said: “The outlook for floating wind is strong and as the market enters a ‘commercial’ era, wind turbine suppliers are now thinking about how to position their products for maximum standardization across the floating pipeline. With this in mind, we’ve developed WindFloat® center column designs that are optimized for 15MW+ turbines with stiffer towers.” “By expanding the WindFloat® portfolio with these designs, we’re demonstrating how we can apply our proven expertise in floating wind with our known and de-risked technical features to achieve center column geometries that are bankable and immediately ready for commercial scale projects.” The full WindFloat product portfolio, now consisting of the WindFloat T, WindFloat F, WindFloat TC, and WindFloat FC offers developers industrialized, FEED-ready solutions for floating wind projects anywhere in the world. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dgyiZ8JH #300X30 #PrinciplePower #windfloat #renewableenergy #offshorewind #floatingwind #netzero

As part of an expansion of diversity of platforms in the floating offshore wind, beyond existing perimeter column designs, center column designs mean a technology evolution in light of that wind turbines are growing larger, and are shown that manufacturers are increasingly focused on standardization of their products as commercial-scale projects for the floating offshore wind. This appears a current trend among developers considering CAPEX & OPEX level, and Principle Power's WindFloat® portfolio will be able to deliver market leading cost, weight, and performance for any wind turbine available on the market.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱: Earthing System Design for a Wind Farm Project! Our latest case study showcases how we delivered earthing solutions for a major wind farm, ensuring both safety and long-term reliability. 💡Discover how our team used CDEGS software to design a precise and robust earthing system that meets industry standards and addresses complex challenges. ⚡Find out how our solutions protect against high voltage surges, safeguarding personnel and equipment while ensuring full compliance with safety regulations. 🌍 See how advanced earthing solutions provide long-term reliability, supporting the sustainable future of wind energy. Read the case study here: 👇 #earthingsystems #powersystems #windenergy #DNO #IDNO

The Offshore Wind Showdown: MP-TP vs. TP-less—Which Will Rule the Future? As the offshore wind sector scales up to 18MW/ 20 MW turbines, critical questions emerge: Can TP-less monopiles truly outpace Monopile with Transition Piece (MP-TP) designs? With increasing forces, installation challenges, geotechnical demands, O&M costs, cost competitiveness, and scaling pressures shaping the conversation, which foundation design will define the future of offshore wind? Key aspects to consider: 1. Load Transfer Mechanism: The selection between MP-TP and TP-less configurations is governed by the magnitude of applied loads and the structural requirements for optimal load transfer and distribution. 2. Installation Aspects: MP-TP allows for on-site alignment corrections, simplifying complex installations. Can TP-less systems match this reliability without this flexibility? TP-less designs minimize lifts but depend on heavy-lift vessels and require flange protection during pile driving. Even pile driving efforts ? 3. Space Utilization: MP-TP systems come with pre-integrated platforms, housing critical systems like switchgear and ladder cages. Does this pre-fabrication advantage outweigh post-installation efforts required in TP-less systems? 4. Operations and Maintenance Costs: MP-TP designs incur higher O&M costs due to inspections at the transition piece interface bolts. Will TP-less systems have lower maintenance needs at the monopile-tower connection bolts? 5. Geotechnical aspect: Soft or weak soils favor MP-TP due to load distribution and stability adjustments. With TP-less requiring larger monopiles, is this a scalable solution for challenging geotechnical conditions? 6. Water Depth Dynamics: In shallow waters, TP-less systems shine with cost savings and simplicity. Is this enough to dominate in these depths? In intermediate waters, will MP-TP’s damping capabilities and structural flexibility offer advantages. Can TP-less systems innovate fast enough to compete in these conditions? As we move into deeper waters, harsher conditions, and next-generation turbines( 18MW/20MW). Will TP-less systems disrupt the market with simplicity and scalability? Does MP-TP’s proven versatility still hold the competitive edge? #OffshoreWind #NextGenTurbines #SustainableEnergy #future #disrupt #EnergyIndependence #Renewables #innovation #renewableenergy #installation #energytransition #windenergy #windpower #windindustry

Flavio Corbo, Head of Feasibility Engineering at ERG, attended EOLIS 2024 – WindEurope’s End-of-Life Issues & Strategies Seminar, the annual event dedicated to managing wind turbines at the end of their lifecycle and strategies to maximize sector efficiency.   During the presentation, Flavio Corbo showcased ERG’s approach to repowering wind farms in Italy, a process that has enabled the replacement of over 30% of installed wind turbines. This initiative has significantly increased the average production capacity per turbine while reducing land usage by 70% compared to the original installations. These efforts not only enhance performance but also optimize operational costs and integrate cutting-edge digital technologies.   The presentation also addressed the multifaceted challenges faced by the wind energy sector, with a particular focus on the critical bottlenecks impacting repowering projects. Among these, the complexities of regulatory permitting emerged as a significant hurdle, as lengthy and fragmented authorization processes often delay the implementation of vital upgrades. These delays are compounded by uncertainties surrounding incentive mechanisms and tariff structures, which can undermine the financial feasibility of projects. The issue of grid saturation also poses a substantial obstacle, with limited connection capacity restricting the integration of new, more efficient technologies into the energy network.   Further complicating matters are logistical challenges tied to transportation and construction management. The need to dismantle older turbines and transport larger, more advanced components to remote sites requires meticulous planning and coordination. These operational difficulties underscore the need for systemic improvements and collaboration across stakeholders to streamline processes, reduce delays, and unlock the full potential of repowering initiatives.   #InspiringChangeToPowerTheFuture #SDGsContributors #greenenERGymakers

I have seen offshore floating wind developments in the news a lot recently but I think the Qingzhou IV OWF in Yangjiang, Guangdong tops them all.   It is predicted to produce enough power annually to support 30,000 homes by it's self. I know wind turbines get a lot of stick for not looking visually appealing but this one could change a few minds!   I am however slightly concerned about the O&M process on these twin turbines. Keen to hear some thoughts from my engineering network on the design? #floatingwind #design #offshorewind #engineering