Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INFINITE (INnovative oFfshore wInd techNologies In deep waTErs)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-11-01 al 2025-05-31
The INFINITE project pretends to demonstrate a 4.8 MW floating offshore wind system at 100m water depth with two key technological innovations:
1) A disruptive and environment-friendly concrete tension leg platform anchored with an innovative tendon-based mooring system, and
2) An innovative aluminum dynamic cable design that is safer, lighter, cheaper and allows for more standardisation in O&M. The demonstrator makes use of a cost optimised O&M strategy that increases accessibility and turbine availability.
The specific objectives are:
1. Advance the technologies readiness level to TRL 7
2. Achieve an LCOE of 85.3 EUR/MWh at the end of the project and set the track to achieve an LCOE of 43.3 EUR/MW (2030) and 32.3 EUR/MWh (2050)
3. Increase the energy production by 3-4% thanks to the CT-bos stability and 5-10% thanks to the increased turbine availability from the O&M
4. Reduce the environmental impact of floating offshore wind installations
5. The actual demonstrator and its LCA represent the means of verification of the objective.
6. Increase safety in operation
1) A disruptive and environment-friendly concrete tension leg platform anchored with an innovative tendon-based mooring system, and
2) An innovative aluminum dynamic cable design that is safer, lighter, cheaper and allows for more standardisation in O&M. The demonstrator makes use of a cost optimised O&M strategy that increases accessibility and turbine availability.
The specific objectives are:
1. Advance the technologies readiness level to TRL 7
2. Achieve an LCOE of 85.3 EUR/MWh at the end of the project and set the track to achieve an LCOE of 43.3 EUR/MW (2030) and 32.3 EUR/MWh (2050)
3. Increase the energy production by 3-4% thanks to the CT-bos stability and 5-10% thanks to the increased turbine availability from the O&M
4. Reduce the environmental impact of floating offshore wind installations
5. The actual demonstrator and its LCA represent the means of verification of the objective.
6. Increase safety in operation
1. During the first months of the project, it was deemed appropriate to conduct a market study to identify the possibilities and main trends regarding turbines for offshore projects. Meetings were held with leading OEMs, to learn about the offshore wind turbine models they had developed to date. These discussions proved invaluable in understanding that the market trends for offshore wind turbines in the fourth quarter of 2022 pointed towards the development of larger turbines with higher rated power. Furthermore, it was observed that new technologies were making turbines more efficient and capable of operating in more diverse conditions. This included improvements in materials and in the aerodynamic design of the blades. This analysis indicates that the market is poised for a significant increase in nominal power in the coming years (up to 15-22 MW).
In the early stage of the project, the consortium worked hard to secure approval for the Portuguese site of Viana do Castelo from the moment the project was submitted to the Horizon Europe call. INFINITE project was following the permitting procedure for 2 permits.
While dealing with the permitting issue in Portugal, the consortium attempted to make the project viable by exploring other options, a huge effort was made to find an alternative to Viana do Castelo, including analyzing several test areas across Europe.
2. Different mooring and anchoring solutions were considered based on the different site conditions of the exploring installation option, including steel anchors, gravity anchors, and suction cans.
3. It was established the standards and codes to be considered during the design of the different parts of the CT-bos platform.
4. Design of platform and ancillary marine systems. This task covered the engineering works required to prepare the detailed design of the CT-bos platform and its ancillary marine systems, including the floater, tendons, wind turbine interface (transition piece) and marine operations to deploy the floating unit at site.
A construction procedure was initiated at Langosteira Port to estimate the preliminary project costs. To ensure the project's viability, extensive consultations were conducted with numerous suppliers for tendon, suction can manufacturing etc.
5. Geotechnical survey was designed and executed to get the additional necessary information to define the geotechnical parameters.
6. The detailed design of the tendon mooring system, covered the development of the top and bottom connectors and the associated installation tooling, ensuring their suitability for the CT-bos platform operating conditions and installation methodology.
7. Development of dynamic cable model and the assessment of its global performance was carried out.
In the early stage of the project, the consortium worked hard to secure approval for the Portuguese site of Viana do Castelo from the moment the project was submitted to the Horizon Europe call. INFINITE project was following the permitting procedure for 2 permits.
While dealing with the permitting issue in Portugal, the consortium attempted to make the project viable by exploring other options, a huge effort was made to find an alternative to Viana do Castelo, including analyzing several test areas across Europe.
2. Different mooring and anchoring solutions were considered based on the different site conditions of the exploring installation option, including steel anchors, gravity anchors, and suction cans.
3. It was established the standards and codes to be considered during the design of the different parts of the CT-bos platform.
4. Design of platform and ancillary marine systems. This task covered the engineering works required to prepare the detailed design of the CT-bos platform and its ancillary marine systems, including the floater, tendons, wind turbine interface (transition piece) and marine operations to deploy the floating unit at site.
A construction procedure was initiated at Langosteira Port to estimate the preliminary project costs. To ensure the project's viability, extensive consultations were conducted with numerous suppliers for tendon, suction can manufacturing etc.
5. Geotechnical survey was designed and executed to get the additional necessary information to define the geotechnical parameters.
6. The detailed design of the tendon mooring system, covered the development of the top and bottom connectors and the associated installation tooling, ensuring their suitability for the CT-bos platform operating conditions and installation methodology.
7. Development of dynamic cable model and the assessment of its global performance was carried out.
Despite the early termination, the project generated several results that go beyond the state-of-the-art in terms of regulatory understanding and deployment pathways for innovative technologies in several locations.
In particular, the consortium:
• Designed and refined the concept for an innovative large-scale demonstrator, including its technical specifications, operational requirements and safety constraints.
• Mapped in detail the permitting and licensing process required to install and operate such a demonstrator in the Zona Livre Tecnológica, identifying all relevant authorities, procedural steps and documentation.
• Collected evidence on the duration and complexity of the licensing process, showing that the time needed to obtain the final authorisations was not compatible with the Horizon Europe project schedule.
These results provide practical knowledge that was not previously available in a consolidated form for this specific context and type of technology. They can therefore support future projects and public authorities in planning, de-risking and accelerating the deployment of similar demonstrators.
To ensure further uptake and success of these results, the following needs have been identified:
• Additional demonstration projects with longer implementation timelines, better aligned with national permitting processes.
• A more streamlined and predictable licensing framework for technological test zones, including clear timelines and “one-stop-shop” procedures.
• Enhanced coordination between EU-funded projects and national authorities at an early stage (e.g. pre-commitments on permits) to avoid deployment delays.
In particular, the consortium:
• Designed and refined the concept for an innovative large-scale demonstrator, including its technical specifications, operational requirements and safety constraints.
• Mapped in detail the permitting and licensing process required to install and operate such a demonstrator in the Zona Livre Tecnológica, identifying all relevant authorities, procedural steps and documentation.
• Collected evidence on the duration and complexity of the licensing process, showing that the time needed to obtain the final authorisations was not compatible with the Horizon Europe project schedule.
These results provide practical knowledge that was not previously available in a consolidated form for this specific context and type of technology. They can therefore support future projects and public authorities in planning, de-risking and accelerating the deployment of similar demonstrators.
To ensure further uptake and success of these results, the following needs have been identified:
• Additional demonstration projects with longer implementation timelines, better aligned with national permitting processes.
• A more streamlined and predictable licensing framework for technological test zones, including clear timelines and “one-stop-shop” procedures.
• Enhanced coordination between EU-funded projects and national authorities at an early stage (e.g. pre-commitments on permits) to avoid deployment delays.