Overview of the Recent Developments in Hybrid Floating Wind-Wave Platforms

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the recent developments in hybrid wind-wave energy. With the focus on floating concepts, the possible configurations introduced in the literature are categorized and depicted, and the main conclusions obtained from the references are summarized. Moreover, offshore wind and wave resources are discussed in terms of complementarity and supplementarity, offering a new perspective to developing hybrid wind-wave energy systems that look for synergies not limited to maximizing power output. Then, the feasibility of the concepts under development is discussed in detail, with focus on technical feasibility, dynamic feasibility and limitations of the methods employed. The hybrid configurations that surpassed the experimental validation phase are highlighted, and the experimental results are summarized. By compiling more than 40 floating wind turbine concepts, new relations are drawn between power, wind turbine dimensions, platforms’ draft and displacement, which are further related to the payload allowance of the units to accommodate wave devices and onboard power take-off systems. Bearing in mind that it is a challenge to model the exact dynamics of hybrid floating wind-wave platforms, this paper elucidates the current research gaps, limitations and future trends in the field. Lastly, based on the overview and topics discussed, several major conclusions are drawn concerning hybrid synergies, dynamics and hydrodynamics of hybrid platforms, feasibility of concepts, among other regards.

Keywords

Offshore renewable energy / Floating offshore wind turbine / Wave energy converter / Floating platform / Technology development