Floating wind and turbine types
Floating offshore wind
Floating offshore wind refers to wind turbines installed on floating platforms instead of being fixed directly to the seabed. This approach enables wind energy deployment in deep-water locations where fixed-bottom foundations are technically or economically unfeasible. The VERTI-GO project develops a floating wind turbine concept specifically designed for offshore conditions.
Fixed-bottom offshore wind
Fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines are mounted directly onto the seabed using foundations such as monopiles or jacket structures. This technology is widely used in shallow and intermediate water depths but becomes increasingly complex and costly as water depth increases.
VAWT (Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine)
A vertical-axis wind turbine is a type of wind turbine in which the main rotational axis is oriented vertically. This configuration allows the turbine to operate independently of wind direction and offers design characteristics that may be advantageous for floating offshore applications. VERTI-GO is based on a floating vertical-axis wind turbine concept designed specifically for offshore deployment.
HAWT (Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine)
A horizontal-axis wind turbine is the most deployed wind turbine type, characterised by a horizontal rotational axis and typically three blades facing the wind. Many current floating offshore wind solutions are adaptations of designs originally developed for onshore or fixed-bottom applications, which may not be fully optimised for floating conditions.
Main turbine parts
Rotor
The rotor is the rotating part of the wind turbine that captures energy from the wind and converts it into mechanical rotational motion.
Blades
Blades are aerodynamic components attached to the rotor. Their shape is designed to generate aerodynamic forces when exposed to wind, causing the rotor to rotate.
Drivetrain
The drivetrain is the set of mechanical components that transfer rotational motion from the rotor to the generator. Depending on the turbine design, it may include a gearbox or operate as a direct-drive system.
Generator
The generator converts mechanical rotational energy from the drivetrain into electrical energy that can be supplied to the power system.
Tower
The tower is the structural element that supports the turbine and positions the rotor at an elevated height, where wind speeds are generally higher and more stable.
Floating platform
Floater (floating platform / substructure)
The floater is the buoyant structure that supports the wind turbine and keeps it afloat. In the VERTI-GO concept, the floater and the turbine tower are designed as an integrated structural system, which helps streamline manufacturing and assembly processes and improves accessibility for operation and maintenance. The floater must provide stability, withstand extreme offshore conditions, and accommodate continuous motion caused by wind, waves, and currents.
Spar floater (spar-type platform)
A spar floater is a type of floating platform characterised by a long, vertical structure with most of its mass located below the waterline. Stability is achieved primarily through a low centre of gravity. The VERTI-GO concept enables a smaller spar floater by lowering the centre of gravity, which can reduce material use and overall system costs.
Ballast
Ballast refers to heavy material placed within the lower part of the floating platform to reduce the centre of gravity and improve overall stability under offshore loading conditions.
Mooring system and lines
The mooring system connects the floating platform to the seabed and keeps it within a defined area. It consists of mooring lines that transmit loads between the platform and the seabed while allowing controlled movement in response to environmental forces.
Anchors
Anchors are components fixed into or onto the seabed that secure the mooring system. Their design and type depend on seabed conditions and the forces generated by wind, waves, and platform motion.
Electrical system and power export
Power electronics
The power electronics system, often referred to as the power converter, controls and conditions the electricity produced by the wind turbine. It ensures that the electrical output has the appropriate voltage, frequency, and quality required for safe transmission and grid connection, despite variations in wind conditions and turbine operation.
Dynamic cable
A dynamic cable is an electrical power cable specifically designed for floating offshore wind turbines. It connects the moving turbine and floating platform to fixed offshore or seabed infrastructure and is engineered to withstand continuous motion, bending, and mechanical loads caused by waves and platform movement.
Export cable
The export cable transmits electricity from offshore infrastructure to the onshore grid. Unlike dynamic cables, export cables are installed on or within the seabed and remain stationary, providing a stable link between offshore power generation and onshore transmission systems.
Substation
A substation is a facility, located offshore or onshore, that collects electricity from one or more turbines and adjusts voltage levels to enable efficient transmission over long distances. Substations also serve as key control points within the electrical network.
Grid connection
The grid connection is the interface between the offshore wind system and the onshore electricity network. At this point, electricity generated offshore is integrated into the wider power grid for distribution to consumers.
Project and innovation terms
TRL (Technology Readiness Level)
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a nine-level scale commonly used in European research and innovation projects to describe the maturity of a technology. It ranges from early-stage concepts (TRL 1) to technologies proven through full-scale operation in real conditions (TRL 9). The VERTI-GO project aims to advance vertical-axis wind turbine technology to TRL 8, by designing, constructing, and operating a full-scale floating offshore demonstrator and validating its performance in real offshore conditions.
Demonstrator
A demonstrator is a real, working prototype used to validate a technology beyond laboratory or small-scale testing. In VERTI-GO, the demonstrator consists of a 2 MW floating vertical-axis wind turbine, designed, constructed, and operated offshore. The demonstrator will be deployed and operated for 15 months to collect robust technical, operational, and environmental data, supporting technology validation, risk reduction, and readiness for future commercial deployment.
Digital Twin
A digital twin is a detailed digital representation of a physical system, such as a wind turbine and its floating platform. In VERTI-GO, the digital twin supports design optimisation and comprehensive data analysis by combining engineering models with data generated during operation. This enables improved understanding of system behaviour, performance, and reliability under real offshore conditions.