Nautilus: Design considerations for a 5mw wind turbine semisubmersible platform

G. Aguirre-Suso, G. Pérez-Morán, M. Sánchez-Lara, J. Lopez-Mendia, J. Fernández, A. Laidler, M. Guijón, M. Martín

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

The development of offshore wind technology at large distance to shore is most of the time associated to the economic feasibility. One of the targets during the whole design process of a floating wind turbine is the cost reduction in order to be competitive with technologies which are in an advanced stage. The companies involved in NAUTILUS, an industrial and technological consortium made up of Astilleros de Murueta, Tamoin, Velatia, Vicinay Marine Innovación and Tecnalia Research & Innovation, are designing a four column semisubmersible structure for a 5MW wind turbine with the focus on the economic feasibility from the first stages of the design. Minimize the cost of the generated energy has been the criterion that has oriented the decisions for optimization of each platform design parameters. This study presents the results of a global assessment model developed for a floating wind farm and specific for the conceptual design of NAUTILUS. The approach is based on several tools developed to support the calculations and process the information related to hydrostatic stability, structural design, mooring system data, hydrodynamic and aerodynamic behaviour. These results are then integrated into an economic model that accounts for different incomes and expenses along the project life of a floating wind farm. Capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) expenditure costs calculation are described taking into account most relevant cost drivers. This tool provides an estimated value of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and is completely parametric in function of the floater dimensions and mass distribution, its mooring system, the wind turbine characteristics, the type of electrical infrastructure, as well as the environmental and site conditions. The study starts with the definition of the main cost drivers, having into account all constrains imposed by the functional requirements established at the first stages of the project and described later. To finish the study, a sensitivity analysis is made to analyse the influence of certain parameters in the cost of the power generated and to have a guideline to obtain the optimal wind farm disposition. It is shown how the election of the installed power, the distance to shore and the water depth are fundamental to approach a feasible design and how only certain wind resources are suitable to wind energy deployment. The results also point to the need of large arrays to assure profitability.

Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2014
EventEuropean Wind Energy Association Conference and Exhibition 2014, EWEA 2014 - Barcelona, Spain
Duration: 10 Mar 201413 Mar 2014

Conference

ConferenceEuropean Wind Energy Association Conference and Exhibition 2014, EWEA 2014
Country/TerritorySpain
CityBarcelona
Period10/03/1413/03/14

Keywords

  • Floating wind farm
  • LCOE
  • Offshore wind
  • Renewable energy
  • Semisubmersible structure
  • Technoeconomic analysis

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