Expected results
FLOATFARM aims to significantly advance the maturity of FOW technology by achieving important cost reductions at all levels within the design and implementation phases. Ultimately, FLOATFARM aims to contribute to decreasing the negative environmental impacts on marine life and to enhancing the public acceptability of FOW farms.
In order to meet the general objectives, the project will follow the expected results

Lowering the LCOE of FOWTs
The project aims to achieve significant reductions in the LCOE for FOWTs through several key initiatives. These include anticipated weight reductions of up to 80% in the RNA by implementing innovative generator concepts, potentially resulting in reduced usage of rare earth materials. Furthermore, enhancements in FOWT design are expected to augment energy capture, particularly in deepwater locations, with projections suggesting a potential increase of up to 20% in annual energy production under specific wind speed conditions. Additionally, improvements in control methodologies, such as the development of wave-cobtrol and radar wave sensing, are anticipated to have significant implications for design considerations and enhance overall turbine performance.
Improving FOWT marine component design
The project endeavours to enhance the design of marine components associated with FOWTs through various targeted actions. These include demonstrations of innovative technologies across different scales, including laboratory, numerical, and real-world settings, aimed at optimising platform, mooring, and cabling configurations. Additionally, reductions in the footprint of mooring systems by up to 66% are expected through demonstrations of mooring and cabling technologies on medium-scale platforms. Furthermore, numerical optimisation of platform designs using a MDAO framework is anticipated to provide insights into their operational efficiency, impact on the LCOE, and environmental factors.
Demonstrating offshore farm-level performance optimisation
The project aims to optimise the performance of offshore wind farms through targeted actions at the farm level. This includes advancements in control methods to mitigate aerodynamic interaction between turbine sub-clusters, potentially increasing farm energy capture by up to 5%. Additionally, the development of synchronised turbine controllers leveraging platform motion is anticipated to reduce turbine interaction, potentially boosting energy capture for floating wind farms by up to 15%.
Demonstrating shared mooring and anchoring concepts
The project seeks to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of shared mooring and anchoring concepts for FOWTs. This includes potential reductions in mooring system installation costs by 26% relative to conventional designs through the adoption of shared mooring lines and anchors. Additionally, experimental, and numerical demonstrations of dynamic coupling between turbines on connected platforms are expected to provide valuable insights for technology scale-up and evaluation of their impact on the LCOE.
Reducing negative environmental impact and improving social perception
Efforts are underway to assess and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of FOW technology while also improving social perception and acceptance. This involves comprehensive assessments of the environmental impact of FOW technology, including marine noise pollution and ecosystem functioning, through advanced acoustic modelling and ecosystem models. Additionally, the project aims to evaluate the social perception and acceptability of new FOW technologies through a review of deliberative processes and practices in EU countries with offshore renewable energy sectors.