Offshore Wind Turbine Pivots Like a Weathervane

A new offshore wind farm system, promising quicker and more cost-effective installation and operations, is set to be tested in the Mediterranean. Named the NextFloat+ Project, it has been awarded a €13.4 million (US$14.4 million) grant by the European Commission.

Establishing wind farms offshore appears sensible. Sea breezes are generally consistent, and open waters offer a more reliable and steady wind pattern compared to land. Additionally, there are fewer concerns about acquiring land for construction.

However, the engineering difficulties of installing turbines at sea are significant, often overshadowing the advantages. The turbines must be extremely durable, with blades that won’t bend and strike their own mast, and they also need heavy, expensive mooring systems to stay anchored.

NextFloat+ Consortium Develops X90

NextFloat+ is a consortium led by Barcelona-based X1 Wind, including Technip Energies and NextFloat Plus SAS, aiming to create a 6-MW wind station prototype named X90. The X90 is a triangular floating platform with a single turbine, assembled onshore and towed to its installation site.

The X90 employs Single Point Mooring (SPM) and a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) system that doesn’t require specialized heavy equipment for installation. In this TLP setup, the triangular platform floats and is anchored by three cables to the seabed at depths exceeding 1,600 ft (500 m).

These cables are tensioned to keep the platform precisely in place. The X90’s TLP uses an SPM system that allows the platform to naturally pivot into the wind. The SPM is pre-installed with a quick-connect system, enabling the platform to be easily snapped into place upon arrival.

Innovative Reverse Turbine Design Simplifies Wind Alignment and Reduces Stress

This design features what initially appears to be a reverse turbine. Typically, wind turbines face into the wind and rotate atop a mast to align with wind shifts. This setup requires the mast to endure significant stress, and the rotor blades must remain rigid to avoid bending and striking the mast, which could be highly problematic.

In the X90 design, the rotor is stationary on the platform, which handles all the turning. The turbine acts like a weathervane, facing away from the wind so that the air pushes the blades from behind. Without a mast to hit, the blades can bend freely. This leads to a simpler, lighter, and more affordable design that is easier to maintain.

Overall, the platform, mooring system, and turbine reduce the installation’s seabed footprint. Its modular design also makes it scalable, with plans for a mass-produced commercial platform exceeding 20 MW already in development.

“We’re excited to receive support from the Innovation Fund,” said Alex Raventos, CEO and co-founder of X1 Wind. “This grant is pivotal for the NextFloat+ Project, complementing the financing already secured through the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program, the French Government’s France 2030 plan managed by ADEME, and private funding from partners and shareholders. Importantly, it will help enhance the competitiveness of floating wind as we gear up for extensive global deployment.”

The video below demonstrates a prototype of X1 Wind’s PivotBuoy system in storm conditions.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more: Sea-Bed Air Batteries Offer Affordable, Long-Term Energy Storage