Floating wind must fix tech and tow-to-port

• 300GW floating wind could be in operational globally by 2050
• Standardising technology would accelerate the sector's growth
• LCOE of floating projects forecast to be below €50/MWh by 2050

Floating wind will achieve full commercial maturity by 2035, according to a majority (59%) of 244 floating wind experts in a survey that DNV published last month. This includes 25% of respondents who said the sector would hit the milestone by 2030.

DNV also forecast that 15% of installed offshore wind capacity globally would be in floating projects by 2050, which is significant given the major head start enjoyed by the fixed-foundation sector. That would be the equivalent of around 300GW floating wind farms in operation worldwide by 2050, which is five times the 57GW of overwhelmingly fixed projects in operation at the end of 2022. This could be transformative.

Yet there are still significant hurdles that the sector needs to overcome to reach that point. Ditlev Engel, CEO of energy systems at DNV, said some of the barriers to the growth of floating wind could be fixed by governments setting supportive policies that would attract investment in both the floating wind projects themselves, as well as in the port and grid infrastructure. But the industry can also play a significant role in driving down installation costs, including through greater technology standardisation.

In this article, we will look at some of the major hurdles that floating wind companies are yet to overcome, based on recommendations in three recent industry studies.

1) Industry must standardise technology

The DNV report, ‘Floating Wind: Turning Ambition Into Action’, also sought industry views on investment and risk mitigation in floating wind. The most popular reasons for companies when deciding which markets to invest in were potential market size (21%), regulatory and political stability (16%), and power grid stability (12%). This is no great surprise: investors will naturally be drawn to the markets where there is the biggest growth potential and where they are unlikely to receive unexpected shocks.

Respondents were also asked how they would mitigate risks in this fast-growing part of the wind sector. Technology standardisation (22%) was the most popular way they saw to reduce risks, followed by regulatory certainty (18%) and reducing uncertainty in operations and maintenance (15%).

This hints at two big challenges for floating wind to overcome in the next decade.

First, there is the need for the industry to move to standardised technology from the more-than-50 floating wind concepts currently in development; and the second is the need to gain greater clarity over operational processes and costs. However, DNV added the effects of standardisation were unlikely to be seen until the mid-2030s.

Finally, it found that 61% of respondents expected floating wind to be the same price or cheaper than fixed-foundation offshore wind projects by 2050, while 39% thought it would be higher. This could fall from over €200/MWh now to under €50/MWh.

2) Moving beyond tow-to-port O&M

One major hurdle in floating wind O&M is how quickly the industry can move beyond tow-to-port strategies, which is where the turbine and platform have to be physically towed to a port for repairs. This is costly and time-consuming, but it will continue to be part of the market until the industry can deliver O&M innovations for floating wind.

The World Forum for Offshore Wind discussed this last month in a white paper called ‘Onsite Major Component Replacement Technologies for Floating Offshore Wind’. It said this evolution would need to happen quickly so floating wind developers get an accurate idea of how much it will cost to operate and maintain their projects. This will be especially important for projects due to reach commercial operation around 2030.

This will include innovations such as cranes that can be attached to offshore turbines to remove risks associated with the movement between floating turbines and repair vessels; vessel cranes adapted from those used on fixed offshore wind projects; and other concepts using hoisting or climbing facilities. It said these on-site solutions can reduce repair time and downtime, while eliminating the need to disconnect turbines.

However, there is a lot to consider. Turbine makers want solutions that require them to make the fewest modifications to turbines; floating technology designers need to develop platforms that could accommodate on-site heavy maintenance systems; and heavy maintenance suppliers need clarity on the standardisation of floating designs. None of these are straightforward as companies look to make major investments in their systems and technology.

3) Addressing emerging safety concerns

Last week, consultancy RCG published a report with health and safety organisation G+, called ‘Floating Offshore Wind Hazard Identification’, that identified the biggest safety risks as floating wind moves towards commercial maturity. It categorised the risks in three categories: O&M, installation and new markets. 

First, it highlighted challenges related to the motions of floating turbines alongside the vessels, such as the challenges of working in a dynamic environment, including at height; motion sickness; and platform access for vessels and helicopters.

Second, it covered risks involved in developing and scaling up an industry, where it identified gaps in safety guidance around quayside operations, towing, mooring and cable installations, offshore heavy lifts, and decommissioning.

And third, it identified risks involved with growing floating wind in new geographies, including how new markets can learn from established markets and players. This is common when looking to establish an industry in a new market. But as the industry rushes to achieve maturity in the next 12 years, or less, there is no time to lose.