The European offshore wind resource is abundant and broadly dispersed. A significant amount of this resource exists in transitional (35-50m) and deepwater (>50m) depths requiring floating technology solutions. There are however no commercially viable floating foundations to date. Many companies, including principle Power, Statoil Hydro, Blue H, Sway and others are working on economically viable solutions, the most advanced being a full-scale prototype. In Europe, the western shores of Iberia, France, Norway and the UK are examples of areas with significant wind resource not addressable with current fixed foundation technologies. The companies mentioned above are looking to address these significant offshore markets as floating foundations will permit wind turbines to be sited in previously inaccessible locations where water depth exceeds 50m and wind resources are superior. The WindFloat enables deepwater offshore wind development by providing both technical and economical solutions. The innovative features of the WindFloat hull dampen wave and turbine induced motion, and it's stability characteristics allow end users to select any commercial offshore wind turbine. WindFloat is scalable, cost-effective, and allows for reduced offshore operation costs during final assembly and commissioning, leading to maximized economic efficiencies. Multiple studies have been performed on the WindFloat hull and published in the permanent literature. These include wave tank tests, coupled numerical modeling and validation activities, hydrodynamic and structural studies, along with specific tasks based on oil and gas and other industry requirements.
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