Developments in Mooring Installation Technology for Floating Offshore Wind Structures
As floating wind turbines move into deeper waters, the capital expenditure (CAPEX) costs for mooring and installation will contribute a significant proportion of the overall project budget. Offshore wind developers are looking for a new mooring methodology to reduce costs, minimise installation times and reduce health and safety risks. The mooring of offshore wind platforms has been identified as the critical success factor in the future of floating offshore wind. High installation costs and the cost of anchoring are delaying and restricting the commercialisation of the sector.
By Greg Campbell-Smith, Global Business Development Manager, First Subsea, UK
During the past five years, a number of floating offshore wind mooring concepts have been developed; progressing from conceptual design, to test tanks and then to the deployment of full-scale prototypes. Here we describe how established offshore oil and gas technology can be incorporated into these mooring systems, offering the renewables industry an innovative and sustainable solution to a significant technological and expensive challenge.
