Ground investigation for floating wind turbines

Focussing on pragmatic approaches to site investigation and ground modelling.

Challenge

With the global surge in floating wind projects on track to reach commercial scale, mid-range estimates predict 8 GW installed by 2030 using 10-20 MW floating turbines. With 3-5 anchors per turbine, this translates into 1,200-4,000 anchors to be installed by the end of the decade.

DNV has identified a need for additional guidance on the number and extent of ground investigations required to produce reliable, certifiable, and installable anchoring designs for floating wind turbines, fixed-bottom foundations, and seabed cable developments, using environmental classes.

Solution

The Ground Investigation for Floating Wind Turbines Joint Industry Project (GIFT JIP) brings together more than 25 industry partners and institutions who will work to develop an industry practice for ground investigation that enables the safe derivation of design soil profiles for installation and in-place performance.

Moreover, the GIFT JIP collaborates with academic institutions, such as the University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA), University of Southampton (UK), Texas A&M (USA), TUMSAI (Japan), and University of Aalborg (Denmark), as well as regulatory authorities including The Crown Estate (UK), RVO (Netherlands), DGEC (France), JOGMEC (Japan), PARI (Japan) and HEREMA (Greece).

Partners

Equinor, Ossian OWF, Muir Mhor OWF, Flotation Energy, Ternan Energy, Wood Thilsted, Fugro, Statkraft, TGS, EDF, UTEC, IMDC, Solid Ground, Fraunhofer, NGI, Geoequip, Mooreast, Geoxyz, Rockwave, Ramboll, COWI, Scottish Power, Ocean Wind, University of Southampton

Duration

The project started in Q1 2025 and will run until Q1 2027.