Offshore Foundation Technologies

Download the presentations:
- Foundation Design Optimisation for Ever Larger Offshore Wind Turbines: a Geotechnical Perspective, lecture by Scott Whyte
- Harnessing Offshore Mooring Experience and Anchoring Technology for the Floating Renewable Energy Systems, lectiure by Senol Ozmutlu

Foundation Design Optimisation for Ever Larger Offshore Wind Turbines: a Geotechnical Perspective
By: Scott Whyte (Geotechnical Engineer at Fugro)

The increasing size and capacity of offshore wind turbines has necessitated corresponding foundation size increases to levels outside the general scope of many design methods. This means that conventional design assumptions may not be valid in such cases. In some instances these design assumptions can lead to a highly conservative design, and in others can potentially over-predict foundation performance; either way, more accurate design methodologies are needed to de-risk projects. As a result, sophisticated numerical analysis, utilising advanced bespoke constitutive soil models, are being employed more routinely by practitioners to optimise foundation design. Some examples of such analysis for offshore wind turbine foundations are presented, considering general analysis pitfalls and implications for geotechnical design. The use of Geographical Information System (GIS) technology to implement such methodologies on a rapid site-wide basis, and to aid cable routing assessments, is also described.

Harnessing offshore mooring experience and anchoring technology for the Floating Renewable Energy Systems
By: Senol Ozmutlu (Projects Director at Vryhof Anchors)

The presentation will provide an overview of anchoring and mooring solutions for floating renewable energy systems. The completed floating renewable energy projects are explained with a focus on the anchors and mooring systems utilized. From small scale demo units to large scale (7 MW) floating wind turbines, the mooring arrangements and the offshore installation challenges are highlighted. The lessons learned from the installation of these demo floating units and the progress towards the pre-commercial and commercial scale wind farms are explained. The possible means of reducing the costs for anchors, mooring lines, and offshore installation for the farm scale developments are elaborated from supply chain perspective as well as from the mooring technology and experience bases.