Monopile foundation could suit deeper-water wind projects
TGS and offshore wind technology developer Entrion Wind have issued details of a study that is said to confirm the commercial viability of Entrion Wind’s Fully Restrained Platform (FRP) monopile foundation.
This is designed for offshore wind farms in water depths of 60 m to 120 m.
TGS used the market intelligence database of its subsidiary 4C Offshore, covering more than 3,400 offshore wind projects globally, to assess the pool of developments planned in deeper waters.
Analysis revealed more than 44 GW of capacity under development in the period through 2040 at which deepwater monopile-based foundations might be applicable. The team assessed site characteristics, such as water depth, seabed conditions and turbine configurations, to determine the technical suitability of the FRP monopile.
They concluded that the design could be technically and economically competitive in transitional water depth ranges where conventional monopiles are not feasible and where jackets or floating foundations have conventionally been used.
TGS’ research also found that the FRP’s ability to simplify installation processes with reduced foundation capex could also lead to broader viability in deeper waters.
“We’ve rigorously evaluated the FRP monopile’s potential to expand the viable envelope for fixed-bottom foundations. This level of analysis gives developers and investors confidence in selecting the most appropriate solutions for emerging deepwater sites,” said Will Ashby, TGS' executive vice president of New Energy Solutions.
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