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loating wind technology enables offshore wind turbine installation in deep waters, unsuitable for bottom-fixed systems, opening up large swathes of the planet’s surface to renewable energy generation. Recent pilot projects have shown potential for similar, or even higher energy yields from floating turbines compared to bottom-fixed projects, as they can be situated in locations with higher wind resource. Recent findings from the Carbon Trust’s Floating Wind joint industry project (JIP) reports predict an estimated 70 GW of floating wind could be installed across the globe by 2040. There is currently approximately 100 MW of floating offshore wind power installed largely in Europe. By the end of 2022, installed capacity could reach 200 - 260 MW. As confidence in the technology grows, larger projects are becoming more commonplace, and while the majority of the earlier ones may be located in Europe, there is also significant attention in the US and Asia, most notably Japan. There is a now a greater number of international floating wind projects in the pipeline than ever before, aiming to pioneer new technologies and designs. These initiatives also aim to demonstrate supporting infrastructure and component technologies, such as mooring systems and dynamic export
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and inter-array cables. The results will be essential for securing the future for floating wind across global markets.
A more efficient structural approach to floating wind The PivotBuoy concept was initially developed by X1 Wind CTO and Co-founder Carlos Casanovas in 2012, while studying at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. He was committed to finding a more efficient structural approach for floating wind than the traditional land-based tower structure – one that would take advantage of the marine environment and reduce the loads on the structure, especially the bending moments at the base of the tower, allowing for a lighter design. The result is an innovative tripod-like platform design that utilises the best features of a semi-submersible – with a low draft – plus a small footprint and the ability to reach deeper waters provided by a tension leg platform (TLP) mooring system. Furthermore, a single point mooring (SPM), called PivotBuoy, enables the structure to weather-vane and work more efficiently in tension and compression. This significantly reduces the amount of steel required. In order to achieve an optimal structural arrangement and improve alignment with
