Ground investigation for floating wind turbines
Joint Industry Project
Focussing on pragmatic approaches to site investigation and ground modelling.
Challenge
With the global surge in floating wind projects on track to reach commercial scale, mid-range estimates predict 8 GW installed by 2030 using 10-20 MW floating turbines. With 3-5 anchors per turbine, this translates into 1,200-4,000 anchors to be installed by the end of the decade.
DNV has identified a need for additional guidance on the number and extent of ground investigations required to produce reliable, certifiable, and installable anchoring designs using environmental classes for floating wind turbines, fixed-bottom foundations, and seabed cable developments.
Solution
The Ground Investigation for Floating wind Turbines Joint Industry Project (GIFT JIP) brings together more than 20 industry partners who will work towards developing an industry practice on ground investigation that enables the safe derivation of design soil profiles for installation and in-place performance.
The JIP will also collaborate with academic institutions, such as the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Southampton, Texas, and regulatory authorities including The Crown Estate, BOEM and HEREMA.
Partners
Equinor, Ossian OWF, Muir Mhor OWF, Flotation Energy, TernanEnergy, Wood Thilsted, Fugro, Statkraft, TGS, EDF, UTEC, IMDC, SolidGround, Fraunhofer, NGI, Geoequip, Mooreast
Duration
The project started in Q1 2025 and will run until Q4 2027.