Abstract
Actively taking part to the debate on the future energy supply in Europe, SEAFLOWER proposes strategies to exploit anchor foundations for floating offshore wind turbines. Effective solutions can be drawn from the offshore oil and gas industry, where they have been made available over the last three decades. Offshore wind energy developments have distinct requirements on anchoring systems, and a systematic study to aid with a rational transfer of technology between the two energy sectors has not yet been undertaken. SEAFLOWER focuses on this, through a Finite Element (FE) study built on a rich database of consistent experimental evidences. To account for the uncertainties intrinsic to any offshore foundation problems and any technology transfers, an innovative probabilistic framework is used, using meta-modelling techniques. The objective is to define a numerical procedure that can store past experience on anchor foundations and make it available to the needs of the floating offshore wind market. SEAFLOWER addresses the actual phase of FOWT pre-commercial development and the procedure overall contributes towards overcoming the actual technical barriers to the deployment of offshore wind in deep waters. The research builds on the collaboration of internationally renowned institutions: the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, University of Western Australia (COFS, outgoing, Supervisor Christophe Gaudin), the National Institute for Environmental Science and Research, Université Grenoble Alpes (IRSTEA, secondment, supervisor Franck Bourrier) and the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna (DICAM, return, supervisor Laura Govoni). With SEAFLOWER, through continuous research and training, the experience researcher also challenges his ambitious plan to forge a career in academia, building new knowledge on his competences and skills, while tackling one to the most important societal issues of our century.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Laura Govoni
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica, Ambientale e dei Materiali
Coordinator:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Other Participants:
The University Of Western Australia
(Australia)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 257.209,92
Project Duration in months: 36
Start Date:
15/03/2021
End Date:
14/03/2024
This project contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 891826