Platform optimization of large floating offshore wind energy structures

The increasing demand of energy is leading to continue innovation in the renewable energy sector. Wind energy harvesting hit a milestone placing wind farm offshore, firstly in shallow water, using fixed bottom supporting technologies and now moving to deep sea areas, where floating platforms are needed. With floating technologies, construction and service costs exponentially grow; therefore, structural and mechanical optimizations have a primary role in the design of a floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT). Optimizations may involve the stabilizing principle, platform shape and size, mooring lines geometry and positioning. In the present work, attention is focused on structural aspects and an optimization procedure for a large wind turbine supported by semisubmersible-like platforms is proposed. In this study, platform is optimized with the intent to enhance the structural performances of the whole system.