Phase III of the Floating Wind JIP was delivered from 2019 to 2020 and focused on technology innovations and challenges for moorings in challenging environments, heavy life maintenance and tow to port maintenance. Phase III also included a Floating Wind Technology Acceleration Competition to support pre-commercial innovations.
Key findings from Phase III were published in a summary report.
Phase III technical studies
Moorings in challenging environments
This study aimed to identify and evaluate state of the art and innovative mooring and anchoring solutions for a range of challenging environmental conditions. The main objectives of this work were to:
- Conduct an evaluation of current state-of-the-art and innovative mooring system solutions for challenging environments
- Develop detailed technical design specifications for a range of site conditions
- Develop design scenarios, and cost estimates for each scenario, including design, preparation, procurement, installation, and maintenance
- Evaluate technology development needs to commercialise innovative mooring and anchoring solutions
Heavy lift maintenance
This study investigated the feasibility and technology development needs for heavy lift offshore operations in a floating wind farm. The main objectives of this work were to:
- Conduct an evaluation of current state-of-the-art methods and innovative solutions for undertaking heavy lift maintenance operations from floating vessels offshore
- Undertake detailed feasibility studies and produce detailed method statements for heavy lift offshore maintenance operations, with a focus on climbing cranes, rigging solutions, and 3D motion compensation systems from floating crane vessels
- Undertake rigorous logistics assessments for large wind farm maintenance campaigns, with component exchanges on multiple turbines
- Produce robust cost estimates for different maintenance strategies in different conditions
- Evaluate technology development needs to enable and optimise offshore heavy lift maintenance operations and engage with the market to identify innovative solutions
Tow to port maintenance
This study investigated further the drivers behind using tow-to-port maintenance strategies in a floating wind farm. The main objectives of this work were to:
- Investigate the procedures for disconnecting and reconnecting floating wind units in a large scale wind farm
- Evaluate key challenges and identify solutions to mitigate risks and costs
- Undertake detailed feasibility studies and produce detailed method statements for tow-to-port maintenance operations
- Undertake rigorous logistics assessments for large wind farm maintenance campaigns, with component exchanges on multiple turbines
- Produce robust cost estimates for different maintenance strategies in different conditions
- Evaluate technology development needs to enable and optimise tow-to-port operations and engage with the market to identify innovative solutions.
Floating Wind Technology Acceleration Competition
This competition, funded by the Scottish Government, was delivered as a part of Phase III of the Floating Wind JIP. It was designed to identify and support pre-commercial innovations in four key technology challenge areas for industry: monitoring and inspection, mooring systems, heavy lift maintenance and tow to port maintenance.
Eight technologies were supported, and successful applicants were from a variety of sectors including oil and gas, IT and telecommunications, and engineering. FLW TAC enabled the projects selected to further develop designs and, in some cases, manufacture and test prototype products. The projects started with a range of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and all made substantial progress over the course of their projects with some now commercially available or having secured larger scale demonstration funding.
Related links
Eight winners of Scottish Government funded floating wind competition announced
Floating wind innovation ramps up as results from Scottish Government-backed competition released
Floating wind technology acceleration competition – project summaries
