Integration of wind and tidal turbines using spar buoy floating foundations

Abstract

Floating platforms are complex structures used in deep water and high wind speeds. However, a methodology should be defined to have a stable offshore structure and not fail dynamically in severe environmental conditions. This paper aims to provide a method for estimating failure load or ultimate load on the anchors of floating systems in integrating wind and tidal turbines in New Zealand. Using either wind or tidal turbines in areas with harsh water currents is not cost-effective. Also, tidal energy, as a predictable source of energy, can be an alternative for wind energy when cut-in speed is not enough to generate wind power. The most expensive component after the turbine is the foundation. Using the same foundation for wind and tidal turbines may reduce the cost of electricity. Different environment scenarios as load cases have been set up to test the proposed system's performance, capacity and efficiency. Available tidal records from the national institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) have been used to find the region suitable for offshore energy generation and to conduct simulation model runs. Based on the scenarios, Terawhiti in Cook Strait with 110 m water height was found as the optimized site. It can be seen that the proposed floating hybrid system is stable in the presence of severe environmental conditions of wind and wave loadings in Cook Strait and gives a procedure for sizing suction caisson anchors.