Discover the people behind FLOATFARM in our interview series!
Meet the team from Innosea (now OWC) with 5 questions and answers about the project goals, challenges and expected impact.
Could you briefly present your organization and its role within FLOATFARM?
OWC is an engineering consultancy specializing in marine renewable energy and part of ABL Group. We support developers through a wide range of services, including structural analysis, loads and ocean engineering, and owner’s engineering. R&D is also a key focus for us, which is why we are involved in FLOATFARM. Our work is mainly within WP2 and WP4, focusing on FOWT station-keeping systems and dynamic cables. We have explored innovative mooring solutions, such as shared moorings, load reduction devices, and synthetic ropes, in close collaboration with academic partners, as well as developed a new tool for dynamic cable optimization.
Could you briefly explain the work done by OWC since the start of the project?
Since January 2024, we have been developing an optimization tool for dynamic cables, a critical component of FOWTs. We coupled OrcaFlex with Python to optimize common dynamic cable configurations, such as lazy-wave and tethered lazy-wave, and also investigated suspended configurations, which show promise for deep-water applications. In addition, we designed a shared mooring system to support Ecole Centrale de Nantes in preparation for a tank test campaign on this emerging concept. We also benchmarked various innovations, synthetic ropes, LRDs, to assess their performance and cost benefits compared to traditional catenary systems. Finally, we developed a numerical model of a flexible spar that was tested at LHEEA’s basin facilities.
What do you expect to achieve in 2026?
2026 will be a busy year! Several tasks will conclude early in the year, including work on dynamic cables and innovative mooring systems. We will also receive tank test results, which will allow us to validate our numerical models against experimental data.From a research perspective, what’s the advantage of being part of a European project like FLOATFARM? European projects like FLOATFARM are an excellent way to deepen our understanding. Being part of such a proactive consortium, with diverse and detailed topics, is highly motivating and fosters high-quality work.
Why have you decided to join the consortium?
OWC has previously participated in a FOWT project (COREWIND) and closely followed the FLOATECH project, even though we were not directly involved. So when the opportunity arose to collaborate with partners from these projects, we seized it. We were also excited to contribute to a project aiming to advance FOWT development even further.
