The Windcatcher 40-megawatt floating wind turbine concept aims for low construction and operation costs, with maximal use of offshore space.
Image courtesy of Axess Group via Wind Catching Systems.
Instead of focusing on one gigantic turbine, the basic idea behind Windcatcher is to park a rack of smaller turbines on a single floating platform. Installation can be handled by the world’s existing fleet of service vessels equipped for offshore oil and gas operations, which deploy elevator-type construction systems.
Wind Catching Systems also notes that the giant-sized capacity of its floating wind concept maximizes the use of available offshore acreage. That’s an important consideration for offshore stakeholders in the North Sea and elsewhere around the world, where the deceptively empty horizon of the oceans masks a beehive of existing activities, including shipping, commercial fishing, and habitat conservation, in addition to military and security considerations.
So, there are still some T’s yet to cross, including securing actual regulatory and approval. That’s a few steps ahead, but an AiP still indicates significant progress in terms of boosting investor confidence. Meanwhile, in March the company also recruited the firm Axess Technologies to engage in a concept study aimed at producing a versatile, state-of-the-art handling system aimed atand entire turbines as needed. The scope of work includes using the same platform for at-sea inspection, maintenance, and repair services.
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