Wind Energy Calculations of a 15 MW Floating Wind Turbine System in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

This study examines how a floating wind turbine responds to irregular waves. It gives a detailed explanation of the floating body’s geometrical features as well as the outcomes in terms of the incident waves. A discussion of the system’s modeling in detail is followed by the presentation of numerical results in the frequency domain. The floating structure, which is exposed to the action of regular and irregular waves in finite-depth waters, encompasses a semi-submersible offshore floating structure, moored with conventional catenary mooring lines, supporting a 15 MW Wind Turbine. The analysis’s objective is to determine which sea states produce the significant and maximum first-order forces of the offshore structure, due to operating wave conditions, obtained through wave hindcast time series in the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, the annual energy output of the 15 MW Wind Turbine is presented.

Keywords

• renewable energy
• offshore structures
• mooring systems
• wind energy
• wave
• wind