Introduction
Floating wind turbines offer an alternative to the conventional
structural foundation on the seabed. The first commercial wind
farms with floating foundations are already in operation, e.g.
WindFloat Atlantic off the coast of Portugal or Hywind and
Kincardine off the coast of Scotland. Other wind farms with
significantly higher capacity are in the planning or have already
reached the construction stage, such as Hywind Tampen off the coast
of Norway. In South Korea, according to current government plans,
floating wind farms with a total capacity of 6 GW and an investment
volume of around 27 billion Euros are to be built by 2030. Both the
United Kingdom and France consider floating wind turbines in their
current CfD (Contracts for Difference) tenders. And most recently,
at the end of May the US government announced plans for the
construction of offshore wind farms with a capacity of 30 GW for
which floating foundations are to be used on the Pacific coast. The
US Department of Energy is providing around 100 million dollars for
their development.
Question: What are the advantages of
floating foundations?
Answer: The feasibility of wind turbines
founded on the seabed using monopiles, jackets or tripods depends
to a large extent on the water depth. As water depth increases,
construction becomes technically, logistically and economically
more complex and eventually reaches its limits. Floating
foundations are free from this restriction. Their installation can
therefore take place in areas with the most suitable wind
conditions, regardless of the water depth. Especially in regions
where, due to the steeply sloping seabed off the coasts, it has not
been possible to erect offshore wind farms so far, floating
foundations offer completely new possibilities.
Question: What are the challenges of
floating foundations?
Answer: The development and construction of
floating foundations requires different expertise than the
construction of grounded plants, and is comparable, for example, to
the construction of floating oil rigs. Moreover, wind turbines to
be installed on floating foundations do not have to be erected at
sea, but can be largely completed in port and then towed to their
destination. This allows for a completely different construction
logistics, especially one that is less dependent on weather and
ground risks, and requires new ways of thinking and content from
both a regulatory and contractual perspective. In this respect,
however, it will be possible to draw on existing experience and
contractual concepts from shipbuilding and the offshore oil and gas
industry for the various project contracts.
Question: What are the long-term development
prospects?
Answer: With floating foundations, offshore
wind farms are possible at an even greater distance from the coast.
However, the greater the distance from the coast, the more complex
the connection to the electricity grid. The combination with
likewise floating electrolysis plants for hydrogen production lends
itself particularly well here. This would enable transport by
pipelines, but above all also by ships, with direction connections
all over the world. The general possibility of moving floating wind
turbines from one location to another could also open up a
secondary market that has never existed before, at least in the
long term.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
