Imagine trying to keep a giant floating balloon steady in a stormy ocean. Instead of using heavy, expensive chains, this project creates lighter, stronger synthetic ropes and smarter anchors that can be installed quietly by small boats. It's like upgrading from a heavy iron anchor to a high-tech, precision-engineered system that hurts the seabed less.
Floating offshore wind is currently too expensive and environmentally taxing to scale. The industry lacks lightweight, sustainable mooring and anchoring systems that can be installed without massive, costly vessels.
The project is developing new synthetic rope response models, cluster anchors for silent installation, and system optimisation tools for floater design.
If you are a developer dealing with high installation costs in deep seas — this project developed system optimisation tools and new anchor types that reduce material use and allow for shared moorings.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with limited synthetic rope options for deep water — this project developed mechanically and chemically tested synthetic rope technologies for small-footprint taut moorings.
If you are a contractor dealing with the need for massive, expensive installation vessels — this project developed cluster anchors that are installed silently from small vessels.
It reduces costs by using lighter materials, optimizing the floater design through new models, and enabling the use of smaller installation vessels for cluster anchors.
The project aims to support a six times increase in offshore wind deployment rate by diversifying the supply chain and using sustainable-by-design innovations.
Based on available project data, the project is currently in the testing and validation phase (2024-2027), and specific licensing terms are not yet listed.
The use of cluster anchors that can be installed from small vessels likely reduces the reliance on scarce, large-scale installation ships, potentially speeding up deployment.
The project distills experimental evidence into system optimisation tools that allow for better floater optimisation and reduced material use.
The consortium is highly commercially oriented with a 44% industry ratio, comprising 7 industrial partners including 2 SMEs. With 16 partners across 8 European countries, the group balances academic research (4 universities, 4 research centers) with practical construction and manufacturing expertise, ensuring the results are geared toward supply chain diversification.
Contact NORGES GEOTEKNISKE INSTITUTT AS for technical details on geotechnical centrifuge testing.
Contact us to connect with the TAILWIND consortium for early access to mooring optimisation tools.
