Modular floating offshore wind platform can be assembled portside in days, Aikido CEO says

By Jeremy Beckman, Editor, Europe

Norway's Marin Energy Test Centre (METCentre) will host trials later this decade of one of the largest floating offshore wind platforms to date. The 15-MW "AO60" demonstrator project will showcase the fast-track "flat pack" assembly method developed by San Francisco-based Aikido Technologies.

The concept comprises 13 modular steel components, including columns and trusses; these will be transported in 2027 to an assembly site close to the test area offshore Haugesund on the west coast, where the platform should be completed within a few days. That compares with months for construction of other current floating wind platform designs on the market, according to the company.

Offshore spoke to Aikido Co-founder and CEO Sam Kanner about the background to the development. 

Offshore: Who came up with the idea for the Aikido platform? And did the inventors anticipate the cost and space issues for ports assembling floating offshore wind structures that are only now starting to be addressed?

One example of this collaboration was the rapid manufacturing of a ‘silver bullet’ solution.  In less than 24 hours, we identified the need for the assembly aid (suggested by Morrison’s foreman), had it designed (by Aikido) and then had it made and delivered back to the yard by a subcontractor of Morrison. It was still hot off of the lathe when it was delivered (by hand) back to the yard. Testing, witnessed by ABS, occurred during November at Pascagoula, Mississippi, on the Gulf Coast, and we also held a ‘Demo Day’ for clients and investors in early December. A few months earlier, we raised a $4-million seed round of investment to continue to prove and de-risk our technology in a variety of different markets.

Offshore: To reduce weight, does the concept feature steels of a certain grade, composites or other lightweight materials?

Kanner: No. We believe, in general, weight is not a good proxy for cost. For example, monopiles are ~50% heavier than jacket structures, yet enjoy about 80% market share in the fixed-bottom market. Why? Because they are easier to fabricate in a serialized fashion and can be delivered at lower cost at scale. We take the same philosophy for the design and fabrication of our floating platform. 

The main features of our platform offering include:

• Distributed supply chain, leveraging existing offshore wind and O&G fabrication capabilities. 
• Rapid assembly in a smaller area (10x acceleration in less than half the space per unit). This is because very minimal welding or painting is required during final assembly. 
• Ease of deployment, storage and transport due to flat pack configuration. 
• Robustness and lack of O&M during operation. We don’t have any active systems onboard the platform.

Offshore: The compact design is said to facilitate faster assembly in small quayside port areas or shipyards, occupying two-thirds less space. What are you comparing this with?

Kanner: We are comparing this with a standard, upright semisubmersible platform, including our own, when in its operational configuration. Our stated goal is to assemble full-scale floaters in less than 80 working hours. We performed the final assembly of the Aikido One pilot in about 40 working hours, but depending on shift schedules and other factors, we assume this could be done in less than a week—similar to the rate at which jackets can be loaded out from a fabrication yard. We have not seen any other competitors provide actual assembly times, only theoretical goals. 

Offshore: The assembly structures are said to be reusable. Is that unusual?

Kanner: Yes. In the offshore oil and gas industry, the assembly and transport aids are often known as ‘cribbage.' I would imagine in a commercial offshore wind project, where for example, all the monopiles are relatively the same size, they can be reused for another project. We also intend to reuse our assembly aids between projects. 

Offshore: The upending procedure only requires water ballast. Can you explain in more detail how it works? 

Kanner: It works by adding and removing water ballast into the tanks within each of the four columns. Once the platform reaches its new equilibrium position due to the change in gravity/buoyancy, we remotely insert a pin using very simple, proven mechanisms. We do this three times during the upending procedure. At our demonstration, witnessed by ABS, we performed the upending procedure in about 2 hours. 

Offshore: What facilities can the METCentre in Haugesund offer to support development of the 15-MW demonstrator platform?

Kanner: The METCentre has a concession area that is designated for floating wind deployment. Thus, the permitting is very straightforward, and the project is essentially shovel-ready. Finding a site like this, with a capable number of local suppliers and partners, is essential for a successful first-of-a-kind project. We have already sent preliminary designs to fabricators around the world to get a sense of their capabilities and capacity. Next year, we hope to share more announcements.