A

TECHNICAL SEMINAR REPORT

ON

FLOATING WINDMILLS

Submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for the award of the Degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

IN

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

Submitted by
KAMREDDY SRIDHAR REDDY
(20285A0230)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

KAMALA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE

(Approved by AICTE, New Delhi and Affiliated to JNTU, Hyderabad)
Accredited with ‘B++’ Grade By NAAC, NBA
Sponsored by Kamala Educational Society, Hanmkonda
Singapur, Huzurabad, Karimnagar, Telangana – 505468
(2022 - 2023)
 KAMALA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE
SINGAPUR, HUZURABAD.
Approved by AICTE, Affiliated to J.N.T.U, Hyderabad & Accredited by NAAC with B++
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
Accredited by NBA

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Mr. K. SRIDHAR REDDY (20285A0230), of final year B.Tech has
satisfactorily completed the Technical Seminar entitled “ FLOATING WINDMILLS ” under
my supervision and guidance towards partial fulfilment of requirements for the award of
degree of Bachelor of Technology in ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING to
JNTUH-HYDERABAD, T.S. during the year 2022-2023.

Technical Seminar Head of the Department

Coordinator

Mr. M. SRIKANTH Dr. YOGESH.Y. PUNDLIK

Assistant Professor Professor
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to take the opportunity to place it on record that this seminar would
have never taken shape but for the co-operation extended by certain individuals.
Through it is not possible to name all of them, it would beunpardonable on our path if
we do not mention some of the very important persons.
I take this opportunity to express our deep sense of gratitude and respect to our
technical seminar coordinator Mr. M. SRIKANTH, Asst. Professor without hisconstant
encouragement it would not have been possible to complete this work. I express
unfeigned gratitude towards my seminar coordinator for his valuable guidance in
completion of project work.
My special thanks to Dr. YOGESH YASHWANTH PUNDLIK, Professor,
Head of the Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, for their suggestions
and whole hearted support.
I extremely grateful to Dr. K. SHANKER, Principal, KAMALAINSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, SINGAPUR for providing the requisite facilities
during the dissertation work andconstant vigilance for creation of ideal environment for
higher studies.
My sincere thanks to all the staff members of EEE Department who have
contributed directly and/or indirectly towards this seminar.

Presented By:
K. SRIDHAR REDDY (20285A0230)
 ABSTRACT

A floating wind turbine system with a tower structure that includes at least one stability
arm extending there from and that is anchored to the sea floor with a rotatable position retention
device that facilitates deep water installations. Variable buoyancy for the wind turbine system
is provided by buoyancy chambers that are integral to the tower itself as well as the stability
arm. Pumps are included for adjusting the buoyancy as an aid in system transport, installation,
repair and removal. The wind turbine rotor is located down wind of the tower structure to allow
the wind turbine to follow the wind direction without an active yaw drive system. The support
tower and stability arm structure is designed to balance tension in the tether with buoyancy,
gravity and wind forces in such a way that the top of the support tower leans downwind,
providing a large clearance between the support tower and the rotor blade tips. This large
clearance facilitates the use of articulated rotor hubs to reduced damaging structural dynamic
loads. Major components of the turbine can be assembled at the shore and transported to an
offshore installation site.
 CONTENTS
Chapter No: TITLES Page No:
List of Figures ⅱ
List of Tables ⅲ
1 INTRODUCTION TO FLOATING WINDMILLS 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Historical Background 1

2 WINDMILLS 3
2.1 Type of Windmills 3
2.2 Working Principle 3
2.3 Main Parts of Windmills 4

3 OFFSHORE WINDMILLS 8
3.1 Need For Floating Windmills 8
3.2 Offshore Wind Power 8
3.3 Construction And Installation of Floating Windmills 9

4 VARIOUS PARAMETERS CONSIDERED 15

4.1 Advantages And Disadvantages 15
4.2 Growth And Cost Trends 16
4.3 Floating Windfarms vs Oil And Gas Reservoirs 17
4.4 Environmental Effects 17

5 FLOATING WINDFARM PROJECTS 19

5.1 Operational Projects 19
5.2 Under Construction 19
5.3 Proposals 19

6 CONCLUSION 21
Conclusion 21
References 22

i
 List of figures

Figure Name of figure Page No.

Fig.2.3.1 Windmill main parts 7

Fig.3.2.1 Offshore windmills 10

Fig.3.3.1 Different Structures of Floating Windmills 12

Fig.3.3.2 Floating offshore wind turbine components 13

ii
 List of Tables

Table Content of table Page No.

Table 3.3.1 Construction restrains for FOWT 12

Table 3.3.2 Qualitative comparison of construction and 14

installation FOWT options

Table 5.1.1 Operational projects details 21

iii
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO FLOATING WINDMILLS

1.1 Introduction
A floating wind turbine is an offshore wind turbine mounted on a floating structure that
allows the turbine to generate electricity in water depths where fixed-foundation turbines are
not feasible. Floating wind farms have the potential to significantly increase the sea area
available for offshore wind farms, especially in countries with limited shallow waters, such as
Japan, France and US West coast. Locating wind farms further offshore can also reduce visual
pollution provide better accommodation for fishing and shipping lanes and reach stronger and
more consistent winds.
A floating wind turbine is a wind turbine mounted on a floating structure that allows
the turbine to generate electricity in water depths where bottom-mounted towers are not
feasible. The wind can be stronger and steadier over water due to the absence of topographic
features that may disrupt wind flow. The electricity generated is sent to shore through undersea
cables. The initial capital cost of floating turbines is competitive with bottom-mounted, near-
shore wind turbines while the rate of energy generation is higher out in the sea as the wind flow
is often more steady and unobstructed by terrain features. The relocation of wind farms into
the sea can reduce visual pollution if the windmills are sited more than 12 miles (19 km)
offshore, provide better accommodation of fishing and shipping lanes, and allow siting near
heavily developed coastal cities. Floating wind parks are wind farms that site several floating
wind turbines closely together to take advantage of common infrastructure such as power
transmission facilities.
Commercial floating wind turbines are mostly at the early phase of development, with
several single turbine prototypes having been installed since 2007. As of 2021, there are 3
operational floating wind farms. The first is the 30 MW Hywind Scotland with 5 floating
turbines, developed by Equinor ASA and commissioned in October 2017.

1.2 Historical Background

Humans have been using wind power for at least 5,500 years to propel Sail boats and
sailing ships, and architects have used wind driven natural ventilation in buildings since
similarly ancient times. Windmills have been used for irrigation pumping and for milling grain
since the 7th century AD in what is now Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. In the United States,
the development of the "water-pumping windmill" was the major factor in allowing the farming
and ranching of vast areas otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. Windpumps
contributed to the expansion of rail transport systems throughout the world, by pumping water
from water wells for the steam locomotives. The multi-bladed wind turbine atop a lattice tower
made of wood or steel was, for many years, a fixture of the landscape throughout rural America.
When fitted with generators and battery banks, small wind machines provided electricity to
isolated farms. In July 1887, a Scottish academic, Professor James Blyth, undertook wind

1
power experiments that culminated in a UK patent in 1891. In the United States, Charles F.
Brush produced electricity using a wind powered machine, starting in the winter of 1887-1888,
which powered his home and laboratory until about 1900. In the 1890s, the Danish scientist
and inventor Poul la Cour constructed wind turbines to generate electricity, which was then
used to produce hydrogen. These were the first of what was to become the modern form of
wind turbine. Small wind turbines for lighting of isolated rural buildings were widespread in
the first part of the 20th century. Larger units intended for connection to a distribution network
were tried at several locations including Balaklava USSR in 1931 and in a 1.25 megawatt (MW)
experimental unit in Vermont in 1941. The modern wind power industry began in 1979 with
the serial production of wind turbines by Danish manufacturers Kuriant, Vestas, Nordtank, and
Bonus. These early turbines were small by today's standards, with capacities of 20–30 kW each.
Since then, they have increased greatly in size, with the Enercon E-126 capable of delivering
up to 7 MW, while wind turbine production has expanded to many countries.

• The concept for "large-scale offshore floating wind turbines was

introduced by Professor William E. Heronemus at the University
of Massachusetts in 1972. It was not until the mid 1990’s, after
the commercial wind industry was well established, that the topic
was taken up again by the mainstream research community.
• As of 2003, existing offshore fixed-bottom wind turbine technology deployments
had been limited to water depths of 30-meters. Worldwide deep-water wind
resources are extremely abundant in subsea areas with depths up to 600 meters,
which are thought to best facilitate transmission of the generated electric power to
shore communities.
• Developed by Hydro, a Norwegian offshore producer of oil and gas and the third
largest aluminum supplier in the world.
• Hydro is a fortune 500 country that was founded in 1905, with
33,000 employees in 40 countries.
• Hydro has researched this plan for more many years, and the results look promising.

2
 CHAPTER 2
WINDMILLS
2.1 Type of Windmills
A windmill is defined as a machine that converts the kinetic energy of the wind into
mechanical energy. All the blades of windmill always rotate in a clockwise direction. The first
windmill was designed in the year 1854 by Daniel Halladay from the United States.
There are two basic types of windmills based on their axis of rotation, and they are:

• Vertical axis windmills

• Horizontal axis windmills
There are four types of horizontal axis windmills:

• Post mill
• Smock mill
• Tower mill
• Fan mill
The number of blades of the windmill was determined after many trial and error
methods. It was found that three blades worked the best and that’s how every windmill has
three blades. The energy source for windmill is wind. When the blades come in contact with
the wind, the blades move such that the shaft starts to spin, resulting in the production of
electricity. The generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy.

2.2 Working Principle

There is an air turbine of large blades attached on the top of a supporting tower of
sufficient height. When wind strikes on the turbine blades, the turbine rotates due to the design
and alignment of rotor blades. The shaft of the turbine is coupled with an electrical generator.
The output of the generator is collected through electric power cables.
When the wind strikes the rotor blades, blades start rotating. The turbine rotor is
connected to a high-speed gearbox. Gearbox transforms the rotor rotation from low speed to
high speed. The high-speed shaft from the gearbox is coupled with the rotor of the generator
and hence the electrical generator runs at a higher speed. An exciter is needed to give the
required excitation to the magnetic coil of the generator field system so that it can generate the
required electricity. The generated voltage at output terminals of the alternator is proportional
to both the speed and field flux of the alternator. The speed is governed by wind power which
is out of control. Hence to maintain uniformity of the output power from the alternator,
excitation must be controlled according to the availability of natural wind power. The exciter
current is controlled by a turbine controller which senses the wind voltage speed. Then output
of electrical generator(alternator) is given to a rectifier where the alternator output gets rectified

3
to DC. Then this rectified DC output is given to line converter unit to convert it into stabilized
AC output which is ultimately fed to either electrical transmission network or transmission grid
with the help of step up transformer. An extra units is used to give the power to internal
auxiliaries of wind turbine (like motor, battery etc.), this is called Internal Supply Unit.

2.3 Main parts of windmills

Windmill made of the following basic components:

• Tower structure
• Rotor with two or three blades attached to the hub
• Shaft with mechanical gear
• Electrical generator
• Yaw mechanism
• Sensors and control
Because of the large moment of inertia of the rotor, design challenges include starting,
speed control during the power-producing operation, and stopping the turbine when required.
The eddy current or another type of brake is used to halt the turbine when needed for emergency
or for routine maintenance. In a modern wind farm, each turbine must have its own control
system to provide operational and safety functions from a remote location.
It also must have one or more of the following additional components:

• Anemometers, which measure the wind speed and transmit the data to the controller.
• Numerous sensors to monitor and regulate various mechanical and electrical
parameters. A 1-MW turbine may have several hundred sensors.
• Stall controller, which starts the machine at set wind speeds of 8 to 15 mph and shuts
off at 50 to 70 mph to protect the blades from overstressing and the generator from
overheating.
• Power electronics to convert and condition power to the required standards.
• Control electronics, usually incorporating a computer.
• Battery for improving load availability in a stand-alone plant.
• Transmission link for connecting the plant to the area grid.
The following are commonly used terms and terminology in the wind power industry:
Low-speed shaft: The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm).
High-speed shaft: It drives the generator via a speed step-up gear.
Brake: A disc brake, which stops the rotor in emergencies. It can be applied mechanically,
electrically, or hydraulically.
Gearbox: Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase the turbine
speed from 30 to 60 rpm to the 1200 to 1800 rpm required by most generators to produce

4
electricity in an efficient manner. Because the gearbox is a costly and heavy part, design
engineers are exploring slow speed, direct-drive generators that need no gearbox.
Generator: It is usually an off-the-shelf induction generator that produces 50- or 60-Hz AC
power.
Nacelle: The rotor attaches to the nacelle, which sits atop the tower and includes a gearbox,
low- and high speed shafts, generator, controller, and a brake. A cover protects the components
inside the nacelle. Some nacelles are large enough for technicians to stand inside while
working.
Pitch: Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to keep the rotor from turning in winds
that have speeds too high or too low to produce electricity.
Upwind and downwind: The upwind turbine operates facing into the wind in front of the
tower, whereas the downwind runs facing away from the wind after the tower.
Vane: It measures the wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine
properly with respect to the wind.
Yaw drive: It keeps the upwind turbine facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. A
yaw motor powers the yaw drive. Downwind turbines do not require a yaw drive, as the wind
blows the rotor downwind. The design and operating features of various system components
are described in the following subsections.
Tower: The wind tower supports the rotor and the nacelle containing the mechanical gear, the
electrical generator, the yaw mechanism, and the stall control. Figure depicts the component
details and layout in a large nacelle, and Figure shows the installation on the tower. The height
of the tower in the past has been in the 20 to 50 m range. For medium and large-sized turbines,
the tower height is approximately equal to the rotor diameter, as seen in the dimension drawing
of a 600-kW wind turbine Small turbines are generally mounted on the tower a few rotor
diameters high. Otherwise, they would suffer fatigue due to the poor wind speed found near
the ground surface. Figure 4.5 shows tower heights of various-sized wind turbines relative to
some known structures. Both steel and concrete towers are available and are being used. The
construction can be tubular or lattice. Towers must be at least 25 to 30 m high to avoid
turbulence caused by trees and buildings. Utility-scale towers are typically twice as high to
take advantage of the swifter winds at those heights.
Turbine: Wind turbines are manufactured in sizes ranging from a few kW for stand-alone
remote applications to a few MW each for utility-scale power generation. The turbine size has
been steadily increasing. The average size of the turbine installed worldwide in 2002 was over
1 MW. By the end of 2003, about 1200 1.5-MW turbines made by GE Wind Energy alone were
installed and in operation. Today, even larger machines are being routinely installed on a large
commercial scale, such as GE’s new 3.6-MW turbines for offshore wind farms both in Europe
and in the U.S. It offers lighter variablespeed, pitch controlled blades on a softer support
structure, resulting in a cost-effective foundation.

5
Blades: Modern wind turbines have two or three blades, which are carefully constructed air
foils that utilize aerodynamic principles to capture as much power as possible. The air foil
design uses a longer upper-side surface whereas the bottom surface remains somewhat uniform.
By the Bernoulli principle, a “lift” is created on the air foil by the pressure difference in the
wind flowing over the top and bottom surfaces of the foil. This aerodynamic lift force flies the
plane high, but rotates the wind turbine blades about the hub. In addition to the lift force on the
blades, a drag force is created, which acts Department of Electrical Engineering, Veer Surendra
Sai University of Technology Burla Page 90 perpendicular to the blades, impeding the lift
effect and slowing the rotor down. The design objective is to get the highest liftto-drag ratio
that can be varied along the length of the blade to optimize the turbine’s power output at various
speeds. The rotor blades are the foremost visible part of the wind turbine, and represent the
forefront of aerodynamic engineering. The steady mechanical stress due to centrifugal forces
and fatigue under continuous vibrations make the blade design the weakest mechanical link in
the system.

Fig.2.3.1 Windmill main parts

Speed Control: The wind turbine technology has changed significantly in the last 25 yr.1
Large wind turbines being installed today tend to be of variable-speed design, incorporating
pitch control and power electronics. Small machines, on the other hand, must have simple, low
cost power and speed control.

6
Yaw and tilt control: The yaw control continuously orients the rotor in the direction of the
wind. It can be as simple as the tail vane or more complex on modern towers. Theoretical
considerations dictate free yaw as much as possible. However, rotating blades with large
moments of inertia produce high gyroscopic torque during yaw, often resulting in loud noise.
A rapid yaw may generate noise exceeding the local ordinance limit. Hence, a controlled yaw
is often required and used, in which the rotor axis is shifted out of the wind direction when the
wind speed exceeds the design limit.
Pitch control: This changes the pitch of the blade with changing wind speed to regulate the
rotor speed. Large scale power generation is moving towards variable-speed rotors with power
electronics incorporating a pitch control.

7
 CHAPTER 3
NEED FOR FLOATING WINDMILLS
3.1 Need for Floating Windmills
A few hundred meters offshore, winds are twice as strong as on land in much of the
world. Offshore wind energy has huge potential, and floating wind turbines is a promising
technology. Such turbines are now being developed. They are meant to be used out at sea in
deep waters, and they do not need to be permanently moored to the ocean bed. DEEP SEA.
Criteria for location of an offshore wind farm is excellent wind conditions and suitable water
depth. The wind farm must be situated near a strong onshore power grid and near harbours
and shipyards.

• Energy is a major factor in today’s society

• Alternative fuel and alternative energy resources are in
great demand
• Most everyone in the world is looking for more energyefficient
ways to live
• Hybrid vehicles and other fuel-efficient technology is arising
around the world
• The world has to change, this emergency that we are
experiencing today should have been taken care of long
before now.
• Now we have no choice but to develop new technology in
very little time

3.2 Offshore Wind Power

Offshore wind power or offshore wind energy is the energy taken from the force of the
winds out at sea, transformed into electricity and supplied into the electricity network onshore.
Offshore wind power is a constantly renewable and infinite energy source, and the
conversion of wind into power creates no harmful greenhouse gas emissions. As we work to
tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gases, offshore wind power will play an essential
role in our future electricity generation.
During the day, air above the land heats up faster than air over water. Warm air over
land expands and rises, and heavier, cooler air rushes in to take its place, creating wind. At
night, the winds are reversed because air cools more rapidly over land than it does over water.
In the same way, the atmospheric winds that circle the earth are created because the land near
the earth's equator is hotter than the land near the North Pole and the South Pole.

8
 Wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity. Water-pumping windmills were
once used throughout the United States, and some still operate on farms and ranches, mainly
to supply water for livestock.
Wind is more constant and continues on offshore as compared to the land. As there is
no obstacles on sea offshores compared to land due to mountains, land, & human interfaces.

Fig.3.2.1 Offshore Windmills

3.3 Construction And Installation Of Floating Windmills

3.3.1 Introduction
Floating offshore wind turbines are being developed to produce renewable energy in
water depths beyond about 65 metres. Options for floating offshore wind turbines are complex
structures.
The construction and installation engineering of floating offshore wind turbines is
important to minimize schedules and costs. Floating offshore wind turbine substructures are an
expanding sector within renewable power generation, offering an opportunity to deliver green
energy, in new areas offshore. The floating nature of the substructures permits wind turbine
placement in deep water locations. This paper investigates the construction and installation
challenges for the various floating offshore wind types. It is concluded that priority areas for
project management and design engineers minimising steel used in semi submersible
construction, reducing the floating draft of Spars and for Tension Leg Platforms developing
equipment for a safe installation. Specifically tailored design for construction and installation
includes expanding the weather window in which these floating substructures can be fabricated,
transported to and from offshore site and making mooring and electrical connection operations
simpler. The simplification of construction methodology will reduce time spent offshore and
minimise risks to installation equipment and personnel.

9
 In order to facilitate the construction and to minimize costs, the main aspects have to
be considered i.e., the required construction vessel types, the distance from fit-out port to site
and the weather restrictions.

3.3.2 STRUCTURES
3.3.2.1 Size and Complexity
Due to the size and complexity of floating offshore wind structures, as well as the
weather conditions in which they are deployed and installed, the actual construction translating
the design into a physical reality requires very sophisticated planning, engineering,
management, and verification. These construction activities are embodied under the overall
term constructability. The four main types of floating offshore wind turbine are the barge, semi
submersible, the Spar and the Tension Leg Platform (TLP).
Floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) structures and their associated subsea cables
are very capitalintensive. They constitute a high early expenditure which increases the need to
control construction costs. FOWT construction comprise thorough planning and competent
project management. The type of Floating offshore wind turbine determines the selection of
construction methods, facilities and stages, the procurement and assembly of materials and
fabricated components, the organization and supervision of the work, and the training of
workers. During construction of the floating offshore wind turbine weight control is very
important. Table 1 gives details of the constraints per type are presented.

Fig.3.3.1 Different Structures of Floating Windmills

10
 Tension Leg SPAR BARGE SEMI
Platform (TLP) SUBMERSIBLE

Very Low intact Needs solid ballast Long fit-out quay Long fit-out quay
stability. after upending. length. length.

Temporary Deep water required Temporary

buoyancy needed for inshore buoyancy in
offshore. construction. drydock.

Requires Deep water required

specialised offshore for tow to offshore
crane vessel. site.

Base for tendons Requires inshore

needs offshore crane vessel to install
crane vessel turbine

Table.3.3.1 Construction restraints for FOWT

3.3.2.2 Floating wind turbine components

The main components of a floating offshore wind turbine are given in figure.3.3.2.
Constructability employs work simplifications and standardization techniques in order to
overcome the difficulties inherent in complex and sophisticated construction in an offshore
environment. Its scope includes construction, deployment and installation.

11
 Fig.3.3.2 Floating offshore wind turbine components

Subsequent removal, towing ashore for maintenance, relocation, or salvage can also be
considered as part of the constructability. In constructability planning, it is essential to formally
set these stages forth by title, description, and schematic drawing. Each of these major stages
can then be subdivided into the detailed stages required. The stages should be further portrayed
by a series of drawings or sketches. Isometric drawings to the structural capacity under
differential heads, the intact stability performance afloat, and the instrumentation with its real-
time readout are developed during the design and planning stage.
Engineering challenges are shown in Table.3.2 which compares construction and
installation of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT).
ITEM TLP SPAR BARGE SEMI
SUBMERSIBLE
Construction Land Medium Medium Medium Large
Area
Ease of onshore Medium Medium Medium Medium
construction
Seabed area Low Large Large Large
Intact stability in tow Low Large Medium Large
Attachment of Complicated Standard Standard Standard
moorings
Table.3.3.2 Qualitative comparison of construction and installation FOWT options

3.3.2.3 Floating Body

When a body is submerged in a fluid (in this case a liquid) it displaces some of the
fluid. This displacement is what causes the buoyancy force. Buoyancy force is the upward
force extended on an object wholly or partly immersed in a fluid. This upward force is called
upthrust.
It produces high restoring force, the centre of buoyancy is below the centre of gravity
but for strong winds might cause a destroying force. To make the body stable at high winds,
the centre of buoyancy must be above the centre of gravity, which can be achieved by the
ballast (a heavy substance “such as rocks or water’’ placed in such a way as to improve
stability and control). Which makes the body to float even is high winds.

3.3.2.4 Construction Stages For Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

A floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) structure goes through a series of very
distinct stages as it moves from construction to loadout (or float-out), to completion afloat, to

12
transport, to installation, and to mooring connection and subsea hook-up. Key considerations
which have been inadequately addressed in the planning of previous structures include:

• Draft, with relation to available water depth during initial stages of construction a
float.
• Intact stability during all stages of installation; including the effects of free
surfaces.
• Tie-down sea fastenings of structures on heavy transport vessels.
• Hydrodynamic response of structure during tow, especially acceleration forces.
• Effect of pressure and temperature changes on function of instrumentation, valves.
• Wave and current forces during construction and installation period.
• Effect of shallow water and minimal under-keel clearance.
• Human error in ballasting control.
• Inadequate weight and tolerance control during construction, leading to mishaps.
• Vortex shedding, vibration and fatigue.
• Welding temporary attachments and closures without following prescribed
procedures.
The division of the project into stages and the subdivision of each stage into actual
steps is a procedure by which the most efficient method can be selected for each step. Sound
judgment and experience will tend to integrate closely related steps within each stage. In
floating offshore wind turbine construction, however, with its revolutionary developments in
equipment, tools, and instrumentation, with its new structures and systems and environments,
specific experience may not exist.

3.3.2.5 Facilities And Methods For Construction

Design and procurement
Design and procurement work is as follows:

• Seabed geotechnical surveys

• Design and procure materials
• Model Tests
• Set up substructure shipyard, ports for turbine fit-out, mooring laydown and cable
laydown.
Early stages on shore
For floating offshore wind turbine structures, the early stages of construction are
carried out at a shore base. This base may be purpose-built for this one project or may be a
relatively permanent facility. The area for such a facility must be adequate to accommodate
not only the structure and/or components themselves but also storage of materials, access
roads, support buildings, and infrastructure facilities.

13
 Adequate roads must be constructed, e.g., of gravel, around the FOWT, and adequate
drainage installed. The construction yard must be stable and firm enough to support the new
FOWT substructure and the construction equipment. Since yards are located near the water,
the original soils may require stabilization and fill such as compacted shell or crushed rock on
which to operate. In weak sediments, filter fabric or pile supports may be required, over
which rock may be placed, or a reinforced concrete slab. Particularly critical loadings occur
with large crawler cranes, since when they pick their maximum loads, almost the full load of
the crane itself plus the lifted load are concentrated on one crawler.
A number of methods have been developed to facilitate this movement from onshore
to offshore. Some of these are briefly described below:

• Build on dry land and move onto a Heavy Transport Vessel, then travel to the fit-
out port for FOWT float off.
• Build in a dry dock and float the FOWT to the fit-out port.

3.3.2.6 Installation Sequence

Early offshore activities
Before tow out of the FOWT the offshore moorings and inter array power cables are
installed.
Offshore activities
Offshore activities in sequence are:

• Tow complete Floating Offshore Wind Turbine to the offshore site.

• Connect offshore moorings.
• Connect offshore power cables.
• Final commissioning.
There are several separate ports required for the construction and installation of floating
offshore wind turbines.

14
 CHAPTER 4
VARIOUS PARAMETERS CONSIDERED
4.1 Advantages And Disadvantages
Advantages of Floating Windmills:

• Offshore wind speeds tend to be faster than on land.1 Small increases in wind speed
yield large increases in energy production: a turbine in a 15-mph wind can generate
twice as much energy as a turbine in a 12-mph wind. Faster wind speeds offshore
mean much more energy can be generated.
• Offshore wind speeds tend to be steadier than on land.1 A steadier supply of wind
means a more reliable source of energy.
• Many coastal areas have very high energy needs. Half of the United States’
population lives in coastal areas,1 with concentrations in major coastal cities.
Building offshore wind farms in these areas can help to meet those energy needs
from nearby sources.
• Offshore wind farms have many of the same advantages as land-based wind farms
– they provide renewable energy; they do not consume water; they provide a
domestic energy source; they create jobs; and they do not emit environmental
pollutants or greenhouse gases.

Disadvantages of Floating Windmills:

• Offshore wind farms can be expensive and difficult to build and maintain. In
particular:
o It is very hard to build robust and secure wind farms in water deeper than
around 200 feet (~60 m), or over half a football field’s length. Although
coastal waters off the east coast of the U.S. are relatively shallow, almost all
of the potential wind energy resources off the west coast are in waters
exceeding this depth. Floating wind turbines are beginning to overcome this
challenge.
o Wave action, and even very high winds, particularly during heavy storms or
hurricanes, can damage wind turbines.
o The production and installation of power cables under the seafloor to
transmit electricity back to land can be very expensive.
• Effects of offshore wind farms on marine animals and birds are not fully understood.
• Offshore wind farms built within view of the coastline (up to 26 miles offshore,
depending on viewing conditions) may be unpopular among local residents, and
may affect tourism and property values.

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4.2 Growth And Cost Trends

Wind and hydroelectric power generation have negligible fuel costs and
relatively low maintenance costs. Wind power has a low marginal cost and a high proportion
of capital cost. The estimated average cost per unit incorporates the cost of construction of the
turbine and transmission facilities, borrowed funds, return to investors (including cost of risk),
estimated annual production, and other components, averaged over the projected useful life of
the equipment, which may being excess of twenty years. Energy cost estimates are highly
dependent on these assumptions so published cost figures can differ substantially. A British
Wind Energy Association report gives an average generation cost of onshore wind power of
around 3.2 pence (between US 5 and 6cents) per kW·h (2005). Cost per unit of energy produced
was estimated in 2006 to be comparable to the cost of new generating capacity in the US for
coal and natural gas: wind cost was estimated at $55.80 per MW·h, coal at $53.10/MW·h and
natural gas at $52.50. Other sources in various studies have estimated wind to be more
expensive than other sources (see Economics of new nuclear power plants, Clean coal, and
Carbon capture and storage). In 2004, wind energy cost a fifth of what it did in the 1980s, and
some expected that downward trend to continue as larger multi mega watt turbines were mass-
produced.[93] However, installed cost averaged €1,300 a kW in 2007,compared to €1,100 a
kW in 2005. Not as many facilities can produce large modern turbines and their towers and
foundations, so constraints develop in the supply of turbines resulting in higher costs.[96]
Research from a wide variety of sources in various countries shows that support for wind power
is consistently 70–80% among the general public. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
figures show that 2007 recorded an increase of installed capacity of 20 GW, taking the total
installed wind energy capacity to 94 GW, up from 74 GW in 2006. Despite constraints facing
supply chains for wind turbines, the annual market for wind continued to increase at an
estimated rate of 37%, following 32% growth in 2006. In terms of economic value, the wind
energy sector has become one of the important players in the energy markets, with the total
value of new generating equipment installed in 2007 reaching €25 billion, or US$36 billion.
Although the wind power industry will be impacted by the global financial crisis in 2009 and
2010, a BTM Consult five year forecast up to 2013 projects substantial growth. Over the past
five years the average growth in new installations has been 27.6 percent each year. In the
forecast to 2013 the expected average annual growth rate is 15.7 percent. More than 200 GW
of new wind power capacity could come on line before the end of 2013. Wind power market
penetration is expected to reach 3.35 percent by 2013 and 8 percent by 2018. Existing
generation capacity represents sunk costs, and the decision to continue production will depend
on marginal costs going forward, not estimated average costs at project inception. For example,
the estimated cost of new wind power capacity may be lower than that for "new coal"
(estimated average costs for new generation capacity) but higher than for "old coal" (marginal
cost of production for existing capacity). Therefore, the choice to increase wind capacity will
depend on factors including the profile of existing generation capacity.

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 4.3 Floating Windfarms vs Oil And Gas Reservoirs

• 1 Barrel of Oil ~ 130 kg ~ 1.5 MWh of Energy (~ 12 kWh / kg)

• 1 MW of Rated Wind Turbine Power @ 40% Capacity Factor ~ 9.6
MWh / Day ~ 6.4 Barrels of Oil / Day
• Conversion Efficiency of Oil & Gas Engines / Turbines, Wind
Turbines ~ 40-50%
• 1 GW Wind Farm (30 year life) ~ 70 M Barrel Oil Field ~ 6,400
Barrels / Day
• Breakeven Cost of Wind Turbines $3M / Rated MW = $3 B /
Rated GW
• Equivalent Cost per Barrel of Oil ~ $43 / Barrel
• Investment Risk in Oil & Gas: Exploration Costs & Volatility of Oil
& Gas Prices
• Investment Risk in Wind: Volatility of Wind Speed & Electricity
Prices.

4.4 Environmental Effects

Compared to the environmental effects of traditional energy sources,

the environmental effects of wind power are relatively minor. Wind power consumes no fuel,
and emits no air pollution, unlike fossil fuel power sources.
The energy consumed to manufacture and transport the materials used to build a wind
power plant is equal to the new energy produced by the plant within a few months of operation
states, "The impact made on the environment is very little when compared to what is gained."
The initial carbon dioxide emission from energy used in the installation is "paid back" within
about 9 months of operation for offshore turbines. Danger to birds and bats has been a concern
in some locations. However, studies show that the number of birds killed by wind turbines is
very low, compared to the number of those that die as a result of certain other ways of
generating electricity and especially of the environmental impacts of using non-clean power
sources. Fossil fuel generation kills around twenty times as many birds per unit of energy
produced than wind-farms.[108] Bat species appear to be at risk during key movement periods.
Almost nothing is known about current populations of these species and the impact on bat
numbers as a result of mortality at wind power locations. Offshore wind sites 10 km or more
from shore do not interact with bat populations. While a wind farm may cover a large area of
land, many land uses such as agriculture are compatible, with only small areas of turbine
foundations and infrastructure made unavailable for use. Aesthetics have also been an issue. In
the USA, the Massachusetts Cape Wind project was delayed for years mainly because of
aesthetic concerns. In the UK, repeated opinion surveys have shown that more than 70% of
people either like, or do not mind, the visual impact. According to a town councillor in
Ardrossan, Scotland, the overwhelming majority of locals believe that the Ardrossan Wind
Farm has enhanced the area, saying that the turbines are impressive looking and bring a calming

17
effect to the town. Finally, noise has also been an important disadvantage. With careful
implanting of the wind turbines, along with use of noise reducing modifications for the wind
turbines however, these issues can be easily addressed.

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 CHAPTER 5
FLOATING WINDFARM PROJECTS
5.1 Operational projects

Wind Capacity Turbines Depth commissioning Km to

farm (MW) Range(m) Shore
Hywind 30 5 x Siemens 50 2017 25
Scotland SG 6MW

WindFloat 25 3 x Vestas 40 2020 20

Atlantic 8.4MW

Kincardine 50 5 x Vestas 60-80 2021 october 15

9.5MW + 2
MW
Table. 5.1.1 Operational Projects details

5.2 Under Construction

In August 2019, Enova awarded NOK2.3 billion to Equinor for a NOK5 billion 88 MW
concrete floating wind farm called Hywind Tampen, with the purpose of reducing technology
costs and supplying power to the Snorre and Gullfaks oil fields from 2022. Construction began
in 2021, and turbines were assembled in 2022.

5.3 Proposals

In 2011, Japan planned to build a pilot floating wind farm, with six 2-megawatt
turbines, off the Fukushima coast of northeast Japan where the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
disaster created a scarcity of electric power. After the evaluation phase is complete in 2016,
"Japan plans to build as many as 80 floating wind turbines off Fukushima by 2020." The cost
is expected to be in the range of 10–20 billion Yen over five years to build the first six floating
wind turbines. In 2011, some foreign companies had also planned to bid on the 1-GW large
floating wind farm that Japan hoped to build by 2020. In March 2012, Japan's Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry approved a 12.5bn yen ($154m) project to float a 2-MW Fuji in
March 2013 and two 7-MW Mitsubishi hydraulic "Sea Angel" later about 20–40 km offshore
in 100–150 meters of water depth. The Japanese Wind Power Association claims a potential of
519 GW of floating offshore wind capacity in Japan. The four-post principle from Fukushima
was certified for feasibility in 2020, and consortium was formed to mass produce the floating
foundations. In 2018, NEDO announced two tenders to be launched aiming to support the
development of both floating and fixed-bottom offshore wind projects in the country.
The US State of Maine solicited proposals in September 2010 to build a floating wind

19
farm. The Request For Proposal was seeking proposals for 25 MW of deep-water offshore wind
capacity to supply power for 20-year long-term contract period in the Gulf of Maine. Proposals
were due by May 2011. In April 2012 Statoil received state regulatory approval to build a large
four-unit demonstration wind farm off the coast of Maine. As of April 2013, the Hywind 2 4-
tower, 12–15 MW wind farm was being developed by Statoil North America for placement 20
kilometers (12 mi) off the east coast of Maine in 140–158 meters (459–518 ft)-deep water of
the Atlantic Ocean. Like the first Hywind installation off Norway, the turbine foundation would
be a spar floater. The State of Maine Public Utility Commission voted to approve the
construction and fund the US$120 million project by adding approximately 75 cents/month to
the average retail electricity consumer. Power could be flowing into the grid no earlier than
2016. As a result of legislation in 2013 by the State of Maine, Statoil placed the planned
Hywind Maine floating wind turbine development project on hold in July 2013. The legislation
required the Maine Public Utilities Commission to undertake a second round of bidding for the
offshore wind sites with a different set of ground rules, which subsequently led Statoil to
suspend due to increased uncertainty and risk in the project. Statoil considered other locations
for its initial US demonstration project. Some vendors who could bid on the proposed project
in Maine expressed concerns in 2010 about dealing with the United States regulatory
environment. Since the proposed site is in federal waters, developers would need a permit from
the US Minerals Management Service, "which took more than seven years to approve a yet-to-
be-built, shallow-water wind project off Cape Cod" (Cape Wind). "Uncertainty over regulatory
hurdles in the United States … is 'the Achilles heel' for Maine's ambitions for Deepwater wind."
In 2013, Statoil pulled out of the $120 million project of four 3-MW turbines floating in 140
m depth of water near Boothbay Harbor, Maine citing change in legislation, and focused on
their five 6-MW turbines in Scotland instead, where the average wind speed is 10 m/s and the
water depth is 100 m.
In June 2016, Maine's New England Aqua Ventus I floating offshore wind
demonstration project, designed by the DeepCwind Consortium, was selected by the U.S.
Department of Energy to participate in the Offshore Wind Advanced Technology
Demonstration program. In August 2021, the project got approval to use non-US barges.
In January 2022, Crown Estate Scotland, the public corporation of the Scottish
Government responsible for the management of land and property in Scotland, awarded 14.5
GW in 10 leases for floating wind farms, along with 10 GW of fixed-foundation. There were
74 applicants, and 17 winners. By April 2022, all 17 lease holders had signed up, and are
required to pay £700m to the Scottish government. Floating wind power has so far been
considered costly, but industry commentators described the program, ScotWind, as a
commercial breakthrough.

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 CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSION
World is moving towards green and clean sources of energy to reduce the emission of
harmful green house gases and pollution created by burning fossil fuels. This has led to a phase
of outstanding developments in the field of renewable energy.
One of the relatively new source of renewable energy is the ‘offshore/ floating wind
turbines’. Europe has already made a huge progress in the field of offshore wind energy and
exploiting it very efficiently. But USA is quite behind to harness this energy and a lot of
research is still needed to be done. Although The United States has a huge potential of offshore
wind energy as suggested by various researches done till date. More than 80% of the US
electricity demand are located in the coastal states and the total US offshore wind energy is
more than twice the current usage. Gulf of maine alone has 156 GW of potential energy which
is needed to be harnessed.
The main issue with the offshore wind energy apart from its variability is the integration
of this energy into a storage grid. A lot of energy storage options like flywheel storage[3],
battery storage etc... were studied but to have bulk storage , the most promising technology is
either Pumped Hydro storage or Compressed Air Energy Storage.
Pumped hydro storage is been in use since decades and according to the latest data
available accounts for more than 96% of all storage installation world wide as suggested by the
Global Energy Storage report, DOE. A lot of research is still needed in the field of CAES.
Although studies indicate that CAES has various advantages over pumped hydro. Advanced
Adiabatic CAES is one of the most significant research topic under consideration to reduce or
eliminate the use of natural gas for preheating the compressed air. Various technological
advancement like implementation of floating platform, liquid piston technology etc.. is also
going on.
The cost related to this technology depend on various complex factors like geology,
environmental impact, federal regulations technology used etc.. The present cost of installation
of offshore farms and storage method (pumped hydro and CAES) mentioned is still on higher
side but the advancement in the technology and support from various federal and state
governments can considerably reduce the cost as we have seen in the case of solar energy.
A lot of research is still needed to completely harness the energy from offshore farms
and to store the excess energy into the grid. We have a huge potential source of clean energy.
To store this energy, pumped hydro and CAES is the most promising method.

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 REFERENCES
1) DnV ules For Classification Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Installations, 2020.
2) Floating wind turbine - Wikipedia.
3) Power System Generation-1 by M. P. Rajesh, K. Manjunath.
4) Committee Draft, IEC 61400-3, IEC Web Page - www.iec.ch.
5) Draft Final Report of “Semi-Submersible Platform and Anchor Foundation System for
Wind Turbine Support”, NREL Subcontract No. YAM-4-33200-10.

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