Stage 3 of the Floating Wind JIP commenced in 2022 with projects running until 2027. Projects within this Phase have been selected to focus on: electrical systems, mooring systems, logistics, windfarm optimisation, foundations, and asset integrity and monitoring. Overviews of individual projects can be found below.
Stage 3 Phase 2 technical studies
Fixed-to-Floating WTG Integration (WTG-I)
Integrating wind turbine generators (WTGs) on floating platforms presents greater challenges than on fixed-bottom foundations due to the dynamic behaviour of these structures. As the industry moves toward commercial-scale floating offshore wind, identifying practical and efficient installation strategies has become increasingly important.
While quayside installation is expected to be the most widely adopted solution, uncertainty remains around acceptable operational tolerances and limiting conditions.
The WTG-I project assessed the operability of integrating WTGs onto moored, buoyant platforms using a fixed quayside crane.
The project objectives were to:
- Define a tolerance range and limiting factors for safe fixed-to-floating integration of WTGs.
- Engage with stakeholders, Original Equipment Manufacturers and 3rd party specialists, to understand the risks and mitigation measures for WTG integration operations at quayside, as well as to obtain feedback on the proposed tolerances.
- Develop a guidance document for fixed-to-floating WTG integration at quayside, outlining the conditions and parameters where it is feasible to carry out WTG integration procedures.
See report
Ballast Systems for Stability Control of Floating Platforms (BSSC)
Ballast systems are key to maintaining the stability of floating offshore wind platforms by managing the amount and distributions of ballast within onboard tanks. By adding, removing, or transferring ballast, these systems regulate the platform’s draft, trim and heel to ensure it remains upright, stable, and safe under changing environmental and operational conditions throughout installation, operation, and decommissioning.
Robust ballast systems play a critical role in optimising the operation and energy generation of floating wind platforms by enabling greater control of platform motions and improving stability characteristics. This is especially important in harsh marine environments, where fluctuating wind and wave conditions can affect both safety and performance.
This project evaluated the benefits, limitations and lifecycle implications of different ballast system configurations for floating offshore wind platforms. The project objectives were to:
- Investigate current and emerging state-of-the-art ballast systems for floating offshore wind platforms to understand the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of various advanced systems for different wind turbine platform archetypes.
- Undertake a cost-benefit analysis through various stages of the system lifecycle, including costs associated to risk mitigation, to understand the benefit of active ballast systems compared to passive ballast systems.
- Investigate the requirements and procedures for associated systems and equipment, and how these need to be adapted for varying metocean conditions and environments.
- Define an operations and maintenance strategy for the lifetime of the identified ballast systems.
See report
Wet Storage Solutions (WSS)
With commercial-scale floating wind farms set to be deployed soon, the optimisation of space for the storage of the platforms following fabrication and the streamlining of offshore schedules will be critical to running efficient installation campaigns. While wet storage may offer opportunities to shorten installation campaigns and reduce both capital expenditure and operational expenditure, it may also introduce challenges, particularly in securing consent for additional storage sites.
This project investigated the requirements and constraints associated with wet storage of floating platforms and assessed how limiting parameters vary across both grounded and moored storage scenarios.
The project objectives were to:
- Review and identify the various site features that may be favourable for wet storage locations.
- Understand the limiting conditions to safely wet store floating offshore wind platforms using a grounded solution.
- Assess the limitations of different mooring and anchor configurations to safely and effectively wet store floating offshore wind platforms.
- Evaluate potential changes to the design of the floating platforms substructures, with and without integrated turbines.
- Examine the conditions and the process for obtaining consent for wet storage areas and the concerns of relevant stakeholders in pre-defining these sites.
- Compare wet storage (grounded and moored) with traditional installation campaigns (installation without considering wet storage) focusing primarily on cost and considering other practical limitations.
See report
132 kV Dynamic Cable Development (132 DCD)
Inter‑array cables are a fundamental component of wind farms, transferring power from individual wind turbines and enabling power transmission across the site. As wind turbine sizes and wind farm capacities increase, the industry’s current 66 kV array cable standard is becoming less suited to these evolving requirements.
Research has identified 132 kV as the optimal next-step array voltage (see High Voltage Array Systems (Hi‑VAS) project findings), enabling more efficient power collection. Industry studies indicate that there are no fundamental barriers to the adoption of 132 kV array systems. However, gaps remain in the availability and maturity of qualification standards.
The main objectives of this project were to:
- Understand and review the existing data within the offshore wind and analogous industries relevant to 132 kV dynamic cable development and qualification.
- Engage with the relevant stakeholders across offshore wind and analogous industries to understand current status of their 132 kV dynamic cable development programs, challenges and gaps.
- Develop a roadmap towards the 132 kV dynamic cable qualification1, identifying applicability and gaps of the current qualification tests, and providing recommendations to cover those gaps.
