Xodus Group has launched a collaborative three-year research project on the costs of floating offshore wind.
The research is a joint collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Exeter as well as the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), led by Xodus through the IDCORE project.
Xodus is issuing an open call for developers and technology suppliers to engage with the study from the outset to allow the best industry outcomes.
The project will be key to ensuring that floating wind can be a serious competitor in the future energy mix and will result in a resource designed to assist in key decision taking for floating offshore wind projects.
The study, entitled ‘Improving the Bankability of Floating Offshore Wind Projects’ will address the challenges and risks that project developers face in obtaining funding for floating wind projects, and will develop a methodology for using floating LIDAR data for bankable energy yield evaluations.
The study will explore the impacts of floating structures on modeling wind resource and incorporating the impact on site considerations of satisfied ocean conditions.
“We have a strong track record of engaging with leading academic research and are proud to be leading this collaborative project in floating offshore wind. It’s important for us to be investing in future skills that the industry needs.
“We are openly inviting developers to engage with us on this project from the outset, and we expect the outcomes to provide much needed innovative research in this area and deliver benefits to the wider wind industry.”
Scott Hamilton, renewables division manager at Xodus.
The IDCORE plan addresses potential challenges in developing leading technologies and educating scientists and engineers of the world that are necessary for the UK to retain its global position in the ORE market.
Xodus has also invested in IDCORE, with two of its consultants now earning their PhDs through the program. The work will be carried out by Ben Smith, a graduate of University College London, with help from Xodus’ technical team.
