A floating wind concept developed by a cooperation between companies in the Netherlands and South Korea has completed tests.
The MSPAR floating foundation model tests (scale 1/44) were successfully completed at the Oceanide facilities near Toulon in France.
The MSPAR offshore floating wind turbine foundation concept is a joint development project by Daewoo Engineering & Construction and Monobase Wind in the Netherlands.
The tests lasted for three weeks producing results in relation to stability and behaviour during transport, installation and in-place conditions, which all fall within industry standards and parameters, the partners said.
The concept is now ready to move to the full-scale prototype phase.
The team aim to complete basic design and certification in principle by the end of 2022 and present a full-scale demonstrator to the market in the course of 2023 and 2024.
The MSPAR floating foundation is a combination of a semi-submersible and SPAR designed for complete assembly at quayside, tow-out using tugs and an in-place draft of more than 70 metres.
The MSPAR is designed to carry 15-20 MW turbines in water depths of more than 90 metres.
The design includes solutions allowing for serial production and supply chain optimisation based on the experience provided by Daewoo E&C using regular offshore structure fabrication technology and mostly existing quay sides with a draft of 10-15 metres and unhindered access to the ocean.