Innovation in the offshore wind power sector: The GICON FOF

Successful completion of the tests at a scale of 1:25

Film of GICON FOF (Floating Offshore Foundation) model test

GICON is currently developing  a floating load-bearing structure for offshore wind turbines, the GICON FOF (Floating Offshore Foundation). The development is done in cooperation with various partners, among them the Technical University and Mining Academy Freiberg (Prof. Dahlhaus), Rostock University (Prof. Kaeding) and Jaehnig GmbH.

A key development milestone was passed in February 2012 when wave and tow tests of a 1:25 scale model were conducted at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin HSVA, confirming functionality, usability and load capacity during operation as well as transport.
The data acquired during the tank tests validated the various simulations.

The displacement at the nacelle amounted to only a few centimeters. The structure was exposed to different wave spectra including scale model equivalents of 20 meter swells resulting from overlapping waves; the SOF performed with high stability even in this ‘rogue wave’ environment. The transport situation was successfully simulated at 4 knots and with 2 meter wave height.

GICON is one of the worldwide leading companies in the development of floating offshore foundations. A full-scale, operating pilot plant is planned for 2013. The video with impressions of the experiments performed can be accessed here.