Scotland: Atkins designs world’s first multi-turbine floating offshore wind platform

Atkins’ offshore wind team has been working with Hexicon to define the concept since 2015 and is currently in the process of analysing a two turbine 8-12MW structure ready for Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and physical model testing of the new design later this year.

Katherine Ward, project manager in Atkins’ renewables business, said: “We’re really pushing the boundaries of what can be done to support Hexicon in maximising energy yield through clever design. The team has a great deal of experience in innovative, transformational work both in the renewables and oil and gas sectors and on this project we are going one step further in making such an exciting concept a reality.”

Marcus Thor, project director for Hexicon, said: “Atkins brings innovation, quality and professionalism, and we’re pleased to be working with them on developing our floating wind concept ready for the offshore wind market. Our aim is for this project to show how a multi turbine concept can help bring down the cost of offshore wind, enabling this form of renewable energy to be even more financially viable.”

New developments in the design of the floating structure's mooring system have increased the efficiency of the rotating system reducing CAPEX and maximising energy yield.

Atkins’ extensive experience in floating wind has played a key role in developing the concept and originally winning the work. Atkins has been involved in more than half a dozen floating wind projects around the world including:
• Detailed design and analysis for Principle Power’s WindFloat prototype in Portugal
• Design for Pilot Offshore Renewable’s Kincardine floating wind project
• Winning Statoil’s Hywind floating wind demonstrator Installation Challenge competition.

Chris Cowland, project director in Atkins’ renewables business added: “The integrated design capability that enables the head to toe design that we’re undertaking for Hexicon clearly demonstrates how our experience across a range of both floating and fixed offshore wind projects can add real value to clients.”

Atkins is one of the leading engineering companies in offshore renewables with a broad portfolio of work in the sector offering a complete and comprehensive service across the entire lifecycle of a project – from assistance during the consenting phases, through to planning, design and analysis work and relationships with turbine suppliers, to executing the construction and deployment.

Atkins’ projects include: designing fixed XL monopile foundations at Statoil’s Dudgeon offshore wind farm; eight offshore substation platforms across four of DONG Energy’s planned offshore wind farms; offshore substation platform structures at E.ON’s Humber Gateway and the SSE/Repsol/CIP owned Beatrice offshore wind farm.

Find out more at www.atkinsglobal.com/renewables and www.hexicon.eu