Float Foundation: offshore wind installation without lifting vessels
Float Foundation is a gravity-based steel foundation developed by Elomatic for offshore wind turbines and other offshore structures. The entire topside is assembled onshore on the foundation, which removes the need for a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV). The topside can be a wind turbine, an oil and gas facility, an accommodation unit, or energy infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Float Foundation eliminates the need for wind turbine installation vessels, which are in critically short supply globally and have rapidly rising day rates.
- The entire turbine is assembled onshore and towed to location using standard tugboats, lowered to the seabed by seawater ballasting.
- Suitable for water depths of 2 to 50 metres, including shallow coastal areas, icy waters, and remote locations where WTIVs cannot operate.
- The design is scalable to current and next-generation turbines, up to 15 MW and above.
The offshore wind installation bottleneck
Global offshore wind capacity is growing, but the industry is constrained by a fundamental logistical problem. The world fleet of wind turbine installation vessels is not close to meeting demand. Day rates for WTIVs are rising rapidly, and new vessel builds take years. Every current foundation technology on the market depends on WTIV availability to install the turbine.
This is not a temporary constraint. As turbines grow larger and projects move to more challenging locations, the vessel problem is becoming more acute. Float Foundation was developed specifically to break this dependency.
How Float Foundation works
Float Foundation is a gravity-based structure (GBS) made from steel. Conventional offshore foundations require separate offshore operations to lift and attach the turbine. With Float Foundation, the turbine is instead fully assembled on top of the foundation before it leaves the quayside.
- Foundation and turbine are assembled together at a shipyard or port using standard quayside equipment including a Ringer crane. No specialist offshore lifting gear.
- The completed structure is towed to the offshore location using two standard tugboats. No WTIV, no jack-up barge, no offshore crane vessel.
- The foundation is lowered to the seabed by controlled seawater ballasting. The structure settles by gravity and is secured to the seabed.
- At end of life, the foundation can be re-floated for removal, relocation, or repurposing. Nothing is left permanently on the seabed.
Key advantages
No installation vessels needed
Eliminates dependency on WTIVs. Installation requires only two standard tugboats, making projects viable regardless of vessel market conditions.
Fewer weather delays
Onshore assembly takes place in controlled port conditions. Offshore operations are reduced to towing and ballasting, both of which have wider weather windows than crane lifts.
Lower emissions
Fewer vessel movements and no offshore heavy lifting reduce the carbon footprint of the installation phase significantly
Shallow and ice-capable
As-built documentation
Works in 2 to 50 metre water depths, including locations with seasonal ice and remote coastal areas where WTIVs cannot operate
Scalable to future turbines
Design accommodates current 15 MW turbines and is adaptable for next-generation sizes. Modular structure supports future capacity increases.
Multiple topside applications
The foundation supports a wide range of offshore topsides beyond wind turbines: O&G facilities, logistics hubs, accommodation units, heliports, and hydrogen infrastructure. At end of life it can be re-floated, relocated, or repurposed.
Technical overview
Foundation type
- Gravity-based structure (GBS), steel
Water depth range
- 2 to 50 metres (6.5 to 164 ft)
Turbine capacity
- Up to 15 MW and above; scalable for next-generation turbines
Installation vessels required
- Two standard tugboats only. No WTIV, no jack-up barge, no offshore crane vessel.
Discuss Float Foundation for your project
Float Foundation is in active development with a pilot project underway. If you are evaluating foundation options for an offshore wind project, or want to discuss whether Float Foundation fits your location and timeline, our team is ready to talk.
