Modular Helical Anchoring Technology
As floating offshore renewable energy technologies, including wind, solar and ocean energy devices, move towards commercial-scale deployment, anchoring and mooring systems are becoming increasingly important. Anchors and moorings represent 10–15% [1] of total capital expenditure in floating wind farms and have a significant influence on foundation design, energy performance, maintenance requirements and decommissioning. Inadequate anchor selection or configuration can lead to increased costs, technical inefficiencies and permitting delays.
By Zachary Miller, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Triton Anchor, USA
Limitations of Conventional Anchoring Methods
Most current floating renewable energy demonstration projects use anchor types originally developed for the oil and gas industry, including drag anchors and heavy chain moorings. While widely available and considered proven for smaller applications, these systems present challenges when scaled for large commercial wind farms.
