Floating Offshore Wind

Toward the realization of decarbonized society

MODEC is developing projects that will enable it to participate in the floating offshore wind power generation market.

Offshore wind power generation systems can be divided into two types: land-based and floating. Floating systems are expected to experience greater market growth as they offer greater wind energy potential and they can be deployed further offshore in locations where water depths do not permit the installation of bottom-fixed systems. MODEC is therefore committed to providing offshore wind power generation systems that utilize floating/mooring technologies developed over many long years of experience in the oil & gas industry with floating production systems.

浮体式洋上風力発電設備

TLP & Semi-submersible

Tension Leg Platforms (TLPs) and Semi-Submersible platforms are two viable options for supporting 10 MW or larger turbines, which are expected to increase in size in the future. We propose an appropriate platform based on the marine conditions of the mooring site, along with the intensions of the company and the local community. TLPs, using tethers, offer the outstanding stability of floating systems with a minimal mooring footprint. The spread mooring used for Semi-Submersible platforms, on the other hand, is more practical for mooring locations where the seabed geology is not suitable for driving in TLP foundation piles.

Both TLPs and Semi-Submersible systems have the same basic floating structure of three columns connected by upper and lower box girders and a wind turbine mounted directly on top of one column.

The lower box girders act as both pontoons and strength members, providing sufficient buoyancy for the structure to be undocked from the shipbuilding dock after the wind turbine has been installed, or to be outfitted with a wind turbine in shallow piers less than 10 m deep. This reduces the restrictions on the docks and piers that can be used, which means that on-site installation costs are likely to be lower than installing a wind turbine on a floating system at sea.

Another feature built into this approach is the ability to install the wind turbine at the quayside and tow the platform to the site for installation. If the turbine needs maintenance, this can be done offshore, or the platform can be disconnected and towed back to the quay for turbine maintenance.

TLP's small footprint

The great advantage of TLP is its small footprint. The tension leg mooring lines, which can reduce the occupied area under the sea to approximately 1/1,000 of other mooring systems (for example, in 100m water depth), allow more platforms to be installed within the same size of wind farm.

TLP is also expected to be more socially acceptable than other mooring systems because its small footprint results in less impact on existing businesses such as fishing and shipping.

TLP's small footprint less affects fishery
Capa
TLP's small footprint allows more units to be installed within a limited area
Footprint

Column

MODEC's latest model of TLP has three hexagonal columns, produced by putting flat boards together.

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