Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO148: Bridging fixed and floating: Hybrid offshore wind concepts and their impact on turbine technology
Andy Overton, Head Of Business Development, Catapult
Abstract
Floating offshore wind (FOW) represents one of the most exciting opportunities in the energy transition, with the UK leading globally through a strong 52.2 GW project pipeline. However, the technical and economic challenges associated with FOW raise the question of whether complementary solutions could accelerate deployment. One emerging concept is the hybrid substructure, which integrates elements of fixed-bottom and floating technologies to combine the benefits of both approaches. While this concept has yet to be demonstrated at scale, it has the potential to serve as a transitional solution between fixed and floating offshore wind. Hybrid substructures present the opportunity to overcome one of the major obstacles for floating offshore wind: turbine supply. At present, there does not seem to be an appetite from Western original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to actively pursue the development of turbines specifically designed for floating applications. A major benefit from hybrid technology is the limited motion response, which can have a positive impact on a number of factors, particularly around the turbine and its maintenance. It is possible that the turbines required for hybrid concepts could be more similar to fixed turbines which are expected to be cheaper than floating turbines due to the higher motions and extra rigidity required, particularly as the turbines surpass 15 MW. When looking at UK EEZ water depths, hybrid concepts could be applicable to 77% of the current FOW capacity pipeline. Given the current uncertainty around turbine supply for FOW projects, and the potential for hybrid structures to utilise existing turbine designs, advancing hybrid concepts could represent a valuable and timely opportunity to bridge the gap.
