Feasibility of Floating Platform Systems for Wind Turbines: Preprint

Conference · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2004-1007· OSTI ID:15005820

Musial, W; Butterfield, S; Boone, A

This paper provides a general technical description of several types of floating platforms for wind turbines. Platform topologies are classified into multiple- or single-turbine floaters and by mooring method. Platforms using catenary mooring systems are contrasted to vertical mooring systems and the advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Specific anchor types are described in detail. A rough cost comparison is performed for two different platform architectures using a generic 5-MW wind turbine. One platform is a Dutch study of a tri-floater platform using a catenary mooring system, and the other is a mono-column tension-leg platform developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Cost estimates showed that single unit production cost is $7.1 M for the Dutch tri-floater, and $6.5 M for the NREL TLP concept. However, value engineering, multiple unit series production, and platform/turbine system optimization can lower the unit platform costs to $4.26 M and $2.88 M, respectively, with significant potential to reduce cost further with system optimization. These foundation costs are within the range necessary to bring the cost of energy down to the DOE target range of $0.05/kWh for large-scale deployment of offshore floating wind turbines.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO. (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 15005820
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-500-34874
• Resource Type: Conference paper/presentation
• Conference Information: Presented at the 23rd ASME Wind Energy, Reno, NV (US), 01/05/2004--01/08/2004; Prepared for the 23rd ASME Wind Energy Symposium, 5-8 January 2004, Reno, Nevada
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
17 WIND ENERGY
ANCHOR SYSTEMS
DEEP WATER
FLOATING PLATFORMS
MOORINGS
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
OPTIMIZATION
PRODUCTION
TARGETS
WIND ENERGY
WIND TURBINES