Float Europe® (Float Marine Technologies Europe Limited) has developed a number of large floating platforms to assist Ireland’s renewable energy transition and meet Europe’s 2030 sustainable goals.
Float Europe’s principal products are the Pneumatically Stabilized Platform (PSP), which is a practical and cost-effective floating motion-stable foundation for several applications, and the Rho-Cee Wave Energy Convertor (WEC), which guarantees an unprecedented wave-to-wire efficiency with low maintenance and long life in the delivery of energy. Furthermore, the recent Offshore Ocean Energy System combines the Rho-Cee WEC with wind turbines, current turbines, and a large energy storage capability with a supporting PSP.
The PSP floating platform system permits the design and construction of very large floating platforms of unlimited size. The PSP has a structural stability that allows any standard offshore wind turbine to be easily deployed, and the wind turbine foundations correspond to marine demands. In addition, the platform offers access, maintenance, and operations similar to those found onshore; a transformer station in-the-dry; storage space for spare and repair parts and maintenance availability reduce ‘down time’ for all onboard equipment; and the benefit of no new specialised vessels being required to transport equipment or maintenance personnel directly from ports to the platform.
In order to prove their scalability within the renewable energy sector, the floating platforms have undergone a series of governmental tank tests. The results were outstanding, with wave heights reaching over 15m and the attenuation of waves reaching between 50% and 94%, depending on the time period of the waves. Furthermore, tests showed that PSP floating platforms of 300m x 300m (90,000m² or nine hectares) will be stable and comfortable in all weather conditions, except in the event of hurricanes or other extremely unstable weather conditions. Moreover, on a PSP of the size foreseen by the extension on the sea project of the Principality of Monaco (±15hectares), ten-storey buildings can be constructed, without perceptible movement by their habitants, except in the event of a hurricane.
Source: innovationnewsnetwork.com
