Overview
Addressing complex offshore mooring challenges involves enhancing mooring system strength. The EIC-funded TfI SeaSprings project proposes an innovative mooring system for structures like floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). This patent-pending solution aims to reduce peak loads on the mooring system by approximately 50 % and decrease wear and tear by around 30 %. Consequently, mooring systems can be lighter, have an extended lifespan, and require smaller deployment vessels, significantly reducing capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expenditure (OpEx). The solution also lessens environmental impact through a smaller footprint, lighter chains, and a semi-taut system, as opposed to a catenary system
TfI SeaSprings is a novel mooring solution for floating offshore structures, e.g. floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). State-of-the-art mooring systems mainly approach the complex offshore mooring challenge by increasing the system's strength. Our patent-pending TfI SeaSprings innovation changes mooring system response to reduce peak loads by ~50% and wear and tear by ~30%. As a result, mooring systems can be significantly lighter, their lifespan can be extended, and it allows use of smaller deployment vessels with greater availability and a reduction of ~€170k/day on vessel hire. These factors all lower CapEx and OpEx, which can support FOWTs in reaching target levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of €90/MWh from €160/MWh. This makes SeaSprings a very attractive solution to FOWT developers and energy consumers. The smaller footprint, lighter chains and use of a semi-taut rather than catenary system, reduces environmental impact and crucially opens up new locations for deployment.