Image courtesy of OSI Renewables
For many years, offshore windfarms have been characterised by two substructure categories – ‘fixed bottom’ or ‘floating’. This characterisation conveniently segmented the market between those deployed in relatively shallow water, to perhaps 60m, and those accessing wind resources in deeper water.
Fixed bottom projects led the way and proliferated quickly, technology matured and economies of scale were delivered. The evolution of larger capacity wind turbines resulted rapid cost reduction giving highly competitive electricity prices for consumers.
While floating technology remains a relatively nascent technology, test and demonstrator projects have proven the viability of a technology which is now preparing to be rolled out into commercial scale via floating wind farms, led by Green Volt, now in development. As we begin to deliver floating technologies at scale, floating offshore wind developers are targeting the same cost reduction pathways experienced in fixed bottom projects.
Recently, other novel deepwater wind concepts have begun to receive attention, attempting to bridge the depth gap between traditional fixed offshore wind systems and floating offshore wind systems. Many of these are based on technology used in the oil and gas sector, but unlike floating technologies they have yet to be tested in offshore wind.
Jon Ruszka, Early Opportunities team
”These new technologies, whilst embryonic, hold a good deal of promise.
However, the technology will need testing through pilots and demonstrator sites before it can be proven to be able to successfully bridge the in-between zone of fixed and floating wind. "
Image courtesy of OSI Renewables – not for reuse or redistribution
The evolution of technology brings new opportunities
Recognising the need to test the concept, UK Government has suggested it may be willing to consider support for ‘Other Deepwater Offshore Wind’ (ODOW) technologies in the upcoming Contract for Difference (CfD) auction. However, it is important that this is balanced with a need to ensure that consented floating test and demonstration sites are supported through the CfD process.
Time will tell if the technology can deliver, but with the consideration of ODOW within the UK CfD mechanism, developers can now confidently engage with technology innovators knowing that, if adopted, projects using ODOW can access the government’s main mechanism for supporting low carbon electricity generation.
Flotation Energy is focussed on delivering windfarms in deeper water environments. In parallel to advancing floating offshore wind, our team have also been at the heart of this exciting evolution, engaging with and supporting technology innovators. As a result, Flotation Energy has built strong working relationships with innovators and is considered not only a thought-leader, but a trusted advisor within the deep water segment of the offshore wind industry.
