WindFloat: A Floating Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines—Part I: Design Basis and Qualification Process

This paper and the corresponding hydrodynamic and structural study paper (also in these proceedings) summarize the feasibility study conducted for the WindFloat technology. The WindFloat is a 3-legged floating foundation for very large offshore wind turbines. It is designed to accommodate a wind turbine, 5 MW or larger, on one of the columns of the hull with minimal modifications to the tower, nacelle and turbine. Technologies for floating foundations for offshore wind turbines are evolving. It is agreed by most experts that the offshore wind industry will see a significant increase in activity in the near future. Fixed offshore turbines are limited in water depth to approximately 30∼50m. Market transition to deeper waters is inevitable, provided suitable technologies can be developed. Despite the increase in complexity, a floating foundation offers distinct advantages: • Flexibility in site location. • Access to superior wind resources further offshore. • Ability to locate in coastal regions with limited shallow continental shelf. • Ability to locate further offshore to eliminate visual impacts. • An integrated structure, without a need to redesign the mast foundation connection for every project. • Simplified offshore installation procedures. Anchors are significantly cheaper to install than fixed foundations and large diameter towers. This paper focuses on the design basis for wind turbine floating foundations, and explores the requirements that must be addressed by design teams in this new field. It shows that the design of the hull for a large wind turbine must draw on the synergies with oil and gas offshore platform technology, while accounting for the different design requirements and functionality of the wind turbine.