To solve these problems, AIMPLAS, the Technological Institute of Plastics, is participating in the FLOTANT project, whose objective is to develop a solution for the installation of offshore wind farms in deep waters (between 100 and 600 meters) with installation and maintenance costs 60% and 55% lower than current ones.
FLOTANT, which began last April, is part of the European H2020 program and will last 36 months. The solutions developed in this project will allow the installation of wind turbines with a capacity of over 10 MW thanks to a mooring and anchoring system made of high-performance polymers that will minimize platform movement. It will also feature a hybrid plastic and concrete float, lightweight dynamic cabling, and a highly autonomous energy export system.
The project has selected three different environments for the installation of three prototypes: A dynamic testing equipment for marine components for the anchoring system and the energy export system, a marine conditions simulator tank for the integrated system prototype, and the port of Taliarte (Gran Canaria) for the characterization of the new polymeric materials in real marine conditions.
AIMPLAS' role in the project will mainly consist of developing and optimizing the anchoring, cabling and flotation system through the development of thermoplastic and thermoset materials with anti-algae (antifouling) and anti-bite properties.
The expected result is an improvement in the costs of this type of energy, reaching the range of 85-95 euros/MWh in 2030, compared to the 107 euros/MWh it was at in 2018.
This project has received funding from the European research and innovation programme H2020 under grant agreement number 815289.
