UK-based design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins is preparing to carry out a detailed design of the world’s first multi-turbine offshore wind floating platform to be deployed at the Dounreay Trì Project off the Scottish north coast.
Atkins’ offshore wind team has been working with the Swedish project developer Hexicon to define the concept since 2015. The collaboration included analysing a two turbine 8-12MW structure for Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and physical model testing of the new design.
The technical collaboration on this project has been so successful, evolving throughout concept and FEED, that Atkins will now undertake the detailed design for the project, the company said.
Marcus Thor, project director for Hexicon, said: “Atkins brings innovation, quality and professionalism, and we’re pleased to be continuing our relationship in developing our floating wind concept ready for the offshore wind market. Our aim is for this project to show how a multi turbine concept can help bring down the cost of offshore wind, enabling this form of renewable energy to be even more financially viable.”
Atkins has been involved in several floating wind projects, including designing and analysing Principle Power’s WindFloat prototype in Portugal, designing Pilot Offshore Renewable’s Kincardine floating wind project, and winning Statoil’s Hywind floating wind demonstrator Installation Challenge competition.
Chris Cowland, Atkins project director for offshore assets, said: “Clearly this is fantastic news for Atkins but it is also good news for the UK as it goes a little way to help plug the gap in development that we’re seeing due to the delay in the next Contracts for Difference allocation round until December 2016 at the earliest. Importantly, the local value to Scotland where the structure will be installed and operated will help to safeguard the offshore expertise the UK has built over decades supporting the oil and gas industry in the North Sea.”