On Common Research Needs for the Next Generation of Floating Support Structures

Abstract

The world is facing several industrial and societal challenges, such as providing enough renewable energy and enough safe and healthy food as formulated in the United Nations sustainable development goals. Using floating stationary structures, the ocean can contribute to solving several of the challenges. New applications need new types of structures, with which we have limited experience. These support structures will be diverse, but also have essential research needs in common. Design of novel floating structures need reliable descriptions of the marine environment. This is particularly challenging for semi-sheltered coastal regions, with complex topography and bathymetry. Novel structures are likely to be compliant, modular and/or multi-body, requiring increased understanding and rational models for wave-structure interaction. Structures with sustainable, safe, and cost-efficient use of materials, including untraditional ones, must be developed. Smart, affordable, and reliable mooring systems and anchors for novel applications are necessary for station keeping. Digital solutions connecting the various stages of design and operation, as well as various design disciplines, researchers, and innovators, will be necessary. Sustainability will be an integral part of any new design. To unlock the potential of novel floating structures, we need to understand the requirements of the applications, as well as the associated technology gaps and knowledge and research needs. This paper highlights research needs for innovation within floating offshore wind, floating solar power plants, novel aquaculture structures, and coastal infrastructure.

State-of-the-Art Review of Vortex-Induced Motions of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Structures

“…The floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) is a fully coupled system: aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, structural dynamics, electrical dynamics, mechanical systems and controller, and it will move in all degrees of freedom under the influence of environmental loads such as wind, waves and currents [4][5][6]. Dynamic electrical cables are crucial in exporting power from an FOWT.…”

In situ coastal observations of wave homogeneity and coherence

“…The structures may be floating bridges, submerged tunnels, wind turbines, solar panels, wave energy converters, and fish farms in nearshore locations. Large floating structures for coastal infrastructure, aquaculture and renewable energy applications cover large surface areas, and the inhomogeneity of ocean waves should therefore be taken into consideration (Aksnes et al, 2022).…”