X-ROTOR: X-shaped Radical Offshore wind Turbine for Overall cost of energy Reduction

Project Information

XROTOR

Grant agreement ID: 101007135

DOI

10.3030/101007135

Project closed

EC signature date 3 November 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 30 April 2024

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 3 900 008,75

EU contribution

€ 3 900 008,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - XROTOR (X-ROTOR: X-shaped Radical Offshore wind Turbine for Overall cost of energy Reduction)

Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2024-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Wind power is now cost-competitive with conventional generation from fossil fuels. However, there is continuing pressure to reduce its cost of energy in order to maintain its rate growth through exploiting the wind resource in more inhospitable locations such as far offshore in deep water. The XROTOR seeks to address this challenge directly by substantially reducing the cost of energy from wind power through the development of a radical new wind turbine concept.
The XROTOR project is important for society because it will greatly advance a new wind turbine concept that has the potential to reduce the cost of energy from offshore wind by 20-30%. Lower cost of wind energy is important for society as it will assist in accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and will address the energy trilemma of cost, security of supply and sustainability.
The high level non-technical primary objectives of the XROTOR project are to create the design tools necessary to allow for the design of the X-Rotor concept, deliver an exemplary X-Rotor design, determine the X-Rotors environmental and socio-economic impact and lastly create a roadmap to bring the X-Rotor concept to commercialisation.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In the first 18 months of the project, the focus was on the development of aerodynamic, control, structural, electrical and maintenance models for the X-Rotor concept. Work on the associated design tools necessary to support the design of the X-Rotor concept is approaching completion. Preliminary results obtained using these models and design tools are consistent with the X-Rotor concept being on track to meet the expectations of a cost of energy reduction when compared to traditional offshore wind turbines.
Using the tools and inputs completed in the first and second reporting period the XROTOR project confirmed a LCoE cost saving from the X-Rotor concept of up to 19% when compared to traditional offshore wind turbines.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The state of the art design tools that currently exist for traditional offshore wind turbines are not capable of modelling the unique characteristics of the X-Rotor offshore wind turbine, consequently new design tools beyond the state of the art must be created. These beyond the state of the art design tools include aeroelastic models, control models, structural models and maintenance models. At the end of the project these design tools were used to deliver an exemplary design of the X-Rotor concept. The impact of that exemplary design on the environment has also been determine with a particular focus on sea and bird life. The socio-economic impact of the exemplary design has been determined through engagement with host communities, the wider wind energy community and through economic modelling. It is hoped society will benefit from the project outcomes through reduced cost of energy from offshore wind. Lower cost wind energy is important for society as it will assist in accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and will address the energy trilemma of cost, security of supply and sustainability.

XROTOR Wind Farm