Institutionals Floating offshore: wind energy of the future

Floating offshore: the future of wind power

Wind power, once considered a niche solution for renewable energy, has over the years established itself as an integral part of our global sustainability strategy. As a result, power generation from wind turbines has become an integral part of our way to a more sustainable energy supply. 

But while wind farms shape the landscapes of many countries, a new era of wind power generation is on the horizon that can radically change the way we generate energy from wind. This change is not on our coasts or on our hills, but in the vastness of our oceans: floating offshore is not only an innovative idea, but could be the key to fully exploiting the untapped potential of offshore wind power. It’s about pushing boundaries and going further out to sea to benefit from stronger, more consistent wind currents. 

When we talk about renewable energy sources, the first things that spring to mind for most people are solar panels and onshore wind farms. But the oceans, which cover over 70% of our planet, hold unprecedented potential for sustainable energy production. 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has, in its studies, highlighted that the generation potential of offshore wind power could be twelve times the current electricity demand in the European Union alone. These are not only impressive figures, but also a wake-up call for energy experts, politicians and investors alike. 

Previous offshore wind projects have mainly focused on shallow coastal waters. A huge energy potential, which lies in deeper waters and further away from the coastlines, was largely overlooked. 

However, it is not just the sheer amount of energy that lies dormant over the deeper waters of our oceans: offshore wind conditions in these areas are often more consistent and less variable than near the coast. This leads to more reliable and efficient energy production, which can form the basis for a stable power supply. 

Combined with the fact that sea winds are less exposed to obstacles such as buildings or trees, the untapped potential of the oceans becomes a promising opportunity that should be explored and exploited. 

Floating offshore is a technology in which wind turbines are not anchored to solid foundations in the seabed, but mounted on floating platforms. These floating structures are then secured to the seabed with special anchoring systems. This enables wind turbines to be installed in much deeper waters than was previously possible. 

These platforms are at the heart of floating offshore and are designed to float with stability in deep waters. To ensure that the floating turbines remain stable and are not carried away by currents, waves or strong winds, they are anchored to the seabed with robust fastening systems made of chains, wire ropes or synthetic ropes. 

The energy generated is fed into the grid via undersea cables running from the turbines to the mainland. These cables are designed to operate under extreme seawater conditions. 

The advancing development of floating offshore technologies brings with it a number of benefits that make them stand out over traditional fixed offshore wind turbines: 

1. Greater wind potential on the high seas:
   
   Deeper waters and locations further off the coast often offer stronger and more consistent wind speeds. This not only increases the energy efficiency of the turbines, but also their operating hours. 
2. Greater choice of locations:
   
   Since no solid foundations are needed, wind farms can be installed in areas that have great underwater depths and irregular seabeds. This significantly expands the potential locations available for wind farms. 
3. Low density of facilities:
   
   Thanks to the flexibility of floating offshore, wind turbines can be optimally positioned to maximise wind resources, requiring fewer turbines for the same energy yield.
4. Positive environmental impact:
   
   Installing wind turbines further off the coast reduces potential negative impacts on birds and marine fauna. This can contribute positively to the preservation of biodiversity in coastal areas. 
5. Less visual and noise impairment:
   
   Since the facilities are located further out in the ocean, visual and noise impairments, which play a major role for residents in particular, can be significantly reduced.
6. Larger facilities possible:
   
   Without the constraints of a solid foundation, wind turbines can be built to be larger and more powerful, resulting in more efficient energy production.
7. Offshore potential also in the area of steep coasts:
   
   Regions previously considered unsuitable for traditional offshore installations due to steep underwater areas can now be developed for sustainable energy production thanks to floating offshore technology. 

 Overall, the benefits of floating offshore offer the opportunity to use wind power at an hitherto unknown scale. The technology promises not only higher energy yields, but also a more sustainable and harmonious approach to the environment and society. 

Although there are also disadvantages associated with floating offshore, above all the higher maintenance costs and higher investment costs, at least the latter will, however, decline in the future due to economies of scale as such floating assets become more widespread. 

 

The floating offshore concept promises to reshape the future of wind energy and marks the beginning of an exciting era in the renewable energy industry. The ocean has an impressive and largely untapped energy potential. Exploring this potential with floating offshore technologies could revolutionise the way we presently use wind energy in the long term. 

The benefits of this technology are more than promising, from the use of more constant and stronger wind currents to greater protection of the marine and coastal environment. 

Ultimately, the goal of innovative and sustainable technologies such as floating offshore is obvious: to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and counteract the impact of climate change. Floating offshore offers another way to meet this challenge and create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future in the long term that will still be worth living in for future generations.