The Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence (FOWCoE) commissioned TTI Marine Renewables to conduct a study assessing the ‘Risk and Failure Implications of Different Mooring Spreads and Number of Mooring Lines.
Key discussion points:
- Risk Management: The study highlights the potential pitfalls of selecting the lowest initial CAPEX solutions. Added redundancy could significantly offset future repair costs and reduce operational disruptions.
- Mooring Line Redundancy: In the scenarios assessed, a 2×3 line configuration was an attractive compromise between redundancy provision and project LCOE.
- Operational Efficiency: Enhancing operational limits through advanced technology and remote operations can significantly reduce lost generation time and increase revenue.
- Reliability vs. Failure Rates: Reliance on traditional Oil & Gas sector failure rates for FOW mooring systems may not be adequate. The report advocates for an increase in component reliability and a reduction in system complexity to better meet the unique demands of FOW systems.
- Holistic Design Approach: The study recommends an integrated design strategy that encompasses both mooring and cable systems from inception through decommissioning. This approach aims to identify design efficiencies and innovation opportunities.
- Cost Reduction Strategies: Implementing synthetic materials, standardising components, and optimising spare parts logistics are proposed as effective strategies for cost reduction.
The findings underscore the necessity of addressing the intricate lifecycle considerations of FOW projects. These considerations require a vast array of inputs and assumptions, each with inherent uncertainties. Strategic early-stage design decisions can substantially reduce total lifecycle costs by preemptively addressing potential failure consequences.
