Description

Foundations are dynamically sensitive structures that are one of the critical components in the offshore wind turbines not only because they influence the overall stability of the structure but also because of financial viability of the project. To tap the potential of the wind areas and to overcome the constraints in installing offshore wind turbines at challenging locations, numerous concepts and designs of foundation have been developed. Successful commercialization of these foundations would have a major impact on the future of the offshore wind industry.

Offshore wind transmission is actively pursuing technical approaches for designing high voltage offshore transmission lines, including voltage system convertor components and design factors. Identification of a potential interconnection hub to the existing electric grid, general performance improvements and upgrades of the transmission system cable protection and the potential for expansion of offshore transmission as development advances in the submarine cable areas are the other key areas of progressive research.

The Energy and Power Systems (EPS) TechVision Opportunity Engine (TOE) provides insights on the latest advances in the broad range of technology related to the energy industry. The topics regularly presented range from energy storage technologies (batteries, fuel cells, flywheels and other advanced energy storage devices) to non-renewable energy such as oil and gas. Special emphasis is given to emerging areas in the renewable sector such as photovoltaics, wind energy, and geothermal energy, and emerging alternative fuels such as hydrogen, syngas, ethanol and biofuels. The EPS TOE keeps clients abreast of the latest R&D developments at major corporate and academic research centers, provides competitor intelligence and helps create strategic alliances.

The Sustainable Energy cluster provides global insights and intelligence on a wide variety of disruptive emerging technologies and platforms ranging from energy storage, advanced batteries, solar and wind energy, to unconventional oil, bioenergy, geothermal energy, and energy transmission.

Keywords: Offshore wind energy, floating foundation, gravity jacket foundation, offshore transmission, cable protection, submarine cables, HVDC transmission