Floating windfarms for shallow offshore sites
conference paper
Offshore wind energy appears to be on the verge of a phase of enormous expansion to becoming a significant source of electricity for a number of countries in northern Europe. Dozens of large projects are planned and a significant number now have planning permission and firm construction dates. The projects built to date have been in shallow seas, of up to around 20m in depth, in the North and Baltic seas, with the planned projects extending the range to new seas and greater depths. However, numerous challenges remain in the greater depths, in particular relating to the necessary size of the support structures, the resulting wave loads, handling equipment and natural frequencies.
At one point, the inherent advantages associated with a floating support structure (of compliance due to the flexible attachment to the ground) will match the additional costs due to complexity and novelty. Questions of course remain under what conditions this will be (water depth, sea climate, distance to shore) and whether offshore wind energy can be proven to be economic under those conditions anyway
At one point, the inherent advantages associated with a floating support structure (of compliance due to the flexible attachment to the ground) will match the additional costs due to complexity and novelty. Questions of course remain under what conditions this will be (water depth, sea climate, distance to shore) and whether offshore wind energy can be proven to be economic under those conditions anyway
TNO Identifier
330444
Source title
OWEMES European Seminar Offshore Wind Energy in Mediterranea and Other European Seas, Naples, Italy, 10-12 April
Pages
1-15
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