1.2.1 Floating substructure type
This guide uses a single reference design of floating substructure to provide a narrative that can be followed easily. This is a three-column, steel, semi-submersible substructure.
It is selected because it has already been demonstrated at two pre-commercial floating offshore wind farms and could be used widely elsewhere. It was not selected to represent the best future solution.
1.2.2 Other technology and process assumptions
This guide also assumes that:
- Each floating substructure uses a six-point mooring with drag embedment anchors
- The offshore substation is supported by a fixed jacket foundation, rather than a floating substructure, and
- Floating offshore wind turbine assembly (the assembly of the turbine onto the floating substructure) takes place at port using an onshore crane or a port-side jack-up vessel.
1.2.3 Site definitions
The site definitions used in this guide are shown in the table below. These affect the cost calculations.
Site definitions used in this guide
| Parameter | Data | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Year of FID | 2025 | |
| First operation date | 2028 | |
| Wind farm rating | 1000 | MW |
| Turbine rating | 15 | MW |
| Water depth at site | 100 | m |
| Annual mean wind speed at 100 m height | 10 | m/s |
| Distance from offshore substation to export cable landing point on the shore | 60 | km |
| Distance from export cable landing point to onshore substation | 10 | km |
| Ground conditions | Benign, allowing a piled substructure for the substation and drag embedment anchors for the floating offshore wind turbines |
1.2.4 Financial assumptions
Full financial assumptions are provided in the Wind farm costs section. These costs have been calculated based on a representative UK wind farm. Values have been converted to US Dollars based on a long-term average conversion rate of 1.3 GBP:USD, true costs will vary based on local factors and currency conversion rates.