LR grants AiP for floating platform ballast system

Spanish offshore engineering and wind technology company, Seaplace, has been granted Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register for a new technology to improve the stability of floating offshore wind platforms. The active ballast control technology, called Crown, is expected to reduce capital cost and improve the economics of floating wind developments.

The technology allows the ballast control system to alter a floating platform’s draught from transport to operational depth. It can also compensate for the loads imposed on the structure by wind, thereby improving stability.

The system is designed with built-in redundancy. It will continue to stabilise a platform even if one compartment is damaged; and it will continue to function even if a component, such as a valve or pump, fails to operate.

Mark Darley, the classification society’s Marine & Offshore Director, said: “Lloyd’s Register is proud to have supported Seaplace in the final phase of the Crown technology development, enabling the company to move on to the full-size demonstration concept stage. This novel technology could help operators and their floating wind assets reach their market potential, with estimates of up to 10 GW of capacity projected to be installed globally by 2030, and more than 100 GW by 2050.”

The technology is likely to be applicable to other offshore energy structures in the future. Seaplace believes that these could include hydrogen/ammonia systems and offshore solar farms.