Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FLOTANT (Innovative, low cost, low weight and safe floating wind technology optimized for deep water wind sites)
Période du rapport: 2020-10-01 au 2022-05-31
According to WindEurope report, offshore wind is expected to produce 7% to 11% of the EU’s electricity demand by 2030 and the energy produced from wind turbines in deep waters could meet the EU’s electricity consumption four times. With Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) solutions, wind power can expand into new deep-water areas, often further from shore, opening vast new areas and markets currently unavailable for offshore wind.
The main objective of FLOTANT project is to develop the conceptual and basic engineering, including performance tests of the mooring and anchoring systems and the dynamic cable to improve cost-efficiency, increased flexibility and robustness to a hybrid concrete-plastic floating structure implemented for Deep Water Wind Farms. Innovative solutions will be designed to be deployed in water depths (100-600 m), optimizing the LcOE of the floating solution (90 €/MWh) by 2030. Prototypes testing of this offshore wind floating platform and its associated mooring, anchoring and dynamic cable systems are foreseen in relevant environment and real sea conditions within the scope of the project. Moreover, the assessment and optimisation of the construction, installation and decommissioning techniques will also contribute to bring down the current cost of offshore wind energy, as well as, increasing its deployment. An expected 60% reduction in CAPEX and 55% in the OPEX by 2030, will be directly motivated by FLOTANT novel developments and additional reductions due to external technology improvements. In addition, environmental, social, and socio-economic impacts will be assessed, increasing social acceptance of FOW in deep waters.
This principal objective of FLOTANT project will be achieved by through the development of the following specific objectives and associated Work Packages:
The FLOTANT technology developed is a barge foundation to support offshore wind turbines optimised for deep water areas. It is made of concrete, steel and XPS foam blocks which provide buoyancy. .
A cutting edge mooring cable was developed led to multistrand composite mooring demonstrators of 20 and 100 TN of strength with antifouling and anti-bite properties, manufactured with a novel method and integrated load monitoring with Fibre Optic sensors to measure temperature and strain. As part of the mooring system, mooring polymer springs were also developed, these can deliver significant reductions in load and fatigue for the whole mooring system.
Related to the power evacuation system, The cable aluminium core is of semi-wet design subject to influence of water ageing but eliminating the radial water penetration metal barrier over the power core, which is also subject to fatigue. The conventional double steel wire armour was replaced by an innovative Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) braid with integrated Fibre Optic (FO) units to monitor the behaviour (strain & temperature) of the cable during fatigue testing.
The innovations introduced within the FLOTANT project were evaluated in terms of their economic impact comparing with alternative source of generation. The cost model developed aims to evaluate the expected LCoE, CapEx, Opex, and Annual Energy Production (AEP) for 60 MW pilot park and 600 MW commercial wind farm deployments in both study locations, Gran Canaria and West of Barra.
The goal of this study is to assess if the targets formulated at the proposal stage of achieving 60% reduction in LCoE through a 60% reduction in CapEx and a 55% reduction in OpEx. Comparing these key techno-economic indicators with the estimated values for a 600MW deployment by 2030 of the FLOTANT technology shows that these targets have been met, both when comparing with the generic state-of-the-art defined by Carbon Trust, but also when comparing with pre-commercial deployments such as Hywind Scotland. Based on this assessment the FLOTANT system could achieve an LCoE of 73-93 €/MWh by 2030.
The main objective of FLOTANT project is to develop the conceptual and basic engineering, including performance tests of the mooring and anchoring systems and the dynamic cable to improve cost-efficiency, increased flexibility and robustness to a hybrid concrete-plastic floating structure implemented for Deep Water Wind Farms. Innovative solutions will be designed to be deployed in water depths (100-600 m), optimizing the LcOE of the floating solution (90 €/MWh) by 2030. Prototypes testing of this offshore wind floating platform and its associated mooring, anchoring and dynamic cable systems are foreseen in relevant environment and real sea conditions within the scope of the project. Moreover, the assessment and optimisation of the construction, installation and decommissioning techniques will also contribute to bring down the current cost of offshore wind energy, as well as, increasing its deployment. An expected 60% reduction in CAPEX and 55% in the OPEX by 2030, will be directly motivated by FLOTANT novel developments and additional reductions due to external technology improvements. In addition, environmental, social, and socio-economic impacts will be assessed, increasing social acceptance of FOW in deep waters.
This principal objective of FLOTANT project will be achieved by through the development of the following specific objectives and associated Work Packages:
The FLOTANT technology developed is a barge foundation to support offshore wind turbines optimised for deep water areas. It is made of concrete, steel and XPS foam blocks which provide buoyancy. .
A cutting edge mooring cable was developed led to multistrand composite mooring demonstrators of 20 and 100 TN of strength with antifouling and anti-bite properties, manufactured with a novel method and integrated load monitoring with Fibre Optic sensors to measure temperature and strain. As part of the mooring system, mooring polymer springs were also developed, these can deliver significant reductions in load and fatigue for the whole mooring system.
Related to the power evacuation system, The cable aluminium core is of semi-wet design subject to influence of water ageing but eliminating the radial water penetration metal barrier over the power core, which is also subject to fatigue. The conventional double steel wire armour was replaced by an innovative Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) braid with integrated Fibre Optic (FO) units to monitor the behaviour (strain & temperature) of the cable during fatigue testing.
The innovations introduced within the FLOTANT project were evaluated in terms of their economic impact comparing with alternative source of generation. The cost model developed aims to evaluate the expected LCoE, CapEx, Opex, and Annual Energy Production (AEP) for 60 MW pilot park and 600 MW commercial wind farm deployments in both study locations, Gran Canaria and West of Barra.
The goal of this study is to assess if the targets formulated at the proposal stage of achieving 60% reduction in LCoE through a 60% reduction in CapEx and a 55% reduction in OpEx. Comparing these key techno-economic indicators with the estimated values for a 600MW deployment by 2030 of the FLOTANT technology shows that these targets have been met, both when comparing with the generic state-of-the-art defined by Carbon Trust, but also when comparing with pre-commercial deployments such as Hywind Scotland. Based on this assessment the FLOTANT system could achieve an LCoE of 73-93 €/MWh by 2030.
A barge foundation was developed mainly in WP4 and tested within the WP5 scope in MARIN test basin.
Different mooring system components have been developed, including both polymer springs and mooring cables. Mooring and anchors configuration has been mainly developed in WP2 and the testing (WP5) has included several elements in DMaC as well as the coupling behaviour with the foundation in MARIN basin.
Innovations in the inter-array cables and/or export electrical connection achieved in the WP3, WP4, WP5 and WP7. These innovations brings to the floating offshore wind meaningful cost reduction in the wind farm either in the manufacturing, installation phase, operation and maintenance activities.
Antifouling and anti-bite materials has a wide range of application either in the core of the project (floating offshore wind) or in other marine products (oil & gas, vessels, infrastructures, etc.). This innovation is connected with mooring lines (WP2), electrical cable (WP3) and the floating foundation (WP4), whereas the testing has been done within WP5.
O&M strategy is mainly focused on OPEX cost reduction, and it includes proactive maintenance strategies based on failure prognostic.
WP7 evaluated the techno-economic indicators with the estimated values for a 600MW deployment by 2030 of the FLOTANT. Based on this assessment the FLOTANT system could achieve an LCoE of 73-93 €/MWh by 2030.
WP8 were focused on the exploitability of the FLOTANT results, each innovations explained above can be utilized separately. For FLOTANT as a whole, further R&D are required to refine the design of the FLOTANT barge and other specific components before they are scaled up. A larger-scale demonstration wind farm in a real sea environment should be carried out by 2026/27 at the earliest. The construction of the commercial array would begin in 2030 .
Different mooring system components have been developed, including both polymer springs and mooring cables. Mooring and anchors configuration has been mainly developed in WP2 and the testing (WP5) has included several elements in DMaC as well as the coupling behaviour with the foundation in MARIN basin.
Innovations in the inter-array cables and/or export electrical connection achieved in the WP3, WP4, WP5 and WP7. These innovations brings to the floating offshore wind meaningful cost reduction in the wind farm either in the manufacturing, installation phase, operation and maintenance activities.
Antifouling and anti-bite materials has a wide range of application either in the core of the project (floating offshore wind) or in other marine products (oil & gas, vessels, infrastructures, etc.). This innovation is connected with mooring lines (WP2), electrical cable (WP3) and the floating foundation (WP4), whereas the testing has been done within WP5.
O&M strategy is mainly focused on OPEX cost reduction, and it includes proactive maintenance strategies based on failure prognostic.
WP7 evaluated the techno-economic indicators with the estimated values for a 600MW deployment by 2030 of the FLOTANT. Based on this assessment the FLOTANT system could achieve an LCoE of 73-93 €/MWh by 2030.
WP8 were focused on the exploitability of the FLOTANT results, each innovations explained above can be utilized separately. For FLOTANT as a whole, further R&D are required to refine the design of the FLOTANT barge and other specific components before they are scaled up. A larger-scale demonstration wind farm in a real sea environment should be carried out by 2026/27 at the earliest. The construction of the commercial array would begin in 2030 .
The main impact expected from FLOTANT project is the development of a cost-competitive integrated floating wind energy system, which can be used in deeper waters (100-600m), with an associated LCOE aligned with the SET Plan target of 90€/MWh by 2030.
The innovations introduced within the FLOTANT project are evaluated in terms of their economic impact comparing with alternative source of generation. The cost model developed aims to evaluate the expected LCoE, CapEx, Opex, and Annual Energy Production (AEP) for 60 MW pilot park and 600 MW commercial wind farm deployments in both study locations.
To analyse the LCoE, the following inputs were required: net annual energy production from the O&M models; O&M costs; improved estimates of the requires balance of plant obtained through an inter-array cable layout optimiser; innovative component costs; and other such as development and installation costs based on the expertise of the FLOTANT partners.
The goal of this study is to assess if the targets formulated at the proposal stage of achieving 60% reduction in LCoE through a 60% reduction in CapEx and a 55% reduction in OpEx. Comparing these key techno-economic indicators with the estimated values for a 600MW deployment by 2030 of the FLOTANT technology shows that these targets have been met, both when comparing with the generic state-of-the-art defined by Carbon Trust, but also when comparing with pre-commercial deployments such as Hywind Scotland. Based on this assessment the FLOTANT system could achieve an LCoE of 73-93 €/MWh by 2030
The innovations introduced within the FLOTANT project are evaluated in terms of their economic impact comparing with alternative source of generation. The cost model developed aims to evaluate the expected LCoE, CapEx, Opex, and Annual Energy Production (AEP) for 60 MW pilot park and 600 MW commercial wind farm deployments in both study locations.
To analyse the LCoE, the following inputs were required: net annual energy production from the O&M models; O&M costs; improved estimates of the requires balance of plant obtained through an inter-array cable layout optimiser; innovative component costs; and other such as development and installation costs based on the expertise of the FLOTANT partners.
The goal of this study is to assess if the targets formulated at the proposal stage of achieving 60% reduction in LCoE through a 60% reduction in CapEx and a 55% reduction in OpEx. Comparing these key techno-economic indicators with the estimated values for a 600MW deployment by 2030 of the FLOTANT technology shows that these targets have been met, both when comparing with the generic state-of-the-art defined by Carbon Trust, but also when comparing with pre-commercial deployments such as Hywind Scotland. Based on this assessment the FLOTANT system could achieve an LCoE of 73-93 €/MWh by 2030