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

Informations projet

XROTOR

N° de convention de subvention: 101007135

DOI

10.3030/101007135

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 3 Novembre 2020

Date de début 1 Janvier 2021

Date de fin 30 Avril 2024

Financé au titre de

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Coût total

€ 3 900 008,75

Contribution de l’UE

€ 3 900 008,75

Coordonné par

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)

Période du rapport: 2022-07-01 au 2024-04-30

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

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.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

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.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

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