Studying the performance of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines

What is it about?

The need for clean, renewable energy is growing with each passing day. Using offshore wind turbines (or OWTs) is a way to generate clean energy. In fact, such offshore wind farms located in bodies of water, such as the sea, are now highly preferred. But, these OWTs need a strong base (or foundation) to survive the harsh conditions of the sea. Several types of foundations have been developed. These can ensure good structural support for OWTs. Among them, the monopile foundation made up of a single large pole driven deep into the seabed, is known to be the most popular. Improving the design of OWT monopile foundations is important. This can help in reducing any risks to the OWT’s lifespan. Moreover, it can aid in reducing costs, and help in further economic development. In this review, the authors take a look at the latest research on OWT monopile foundation systems. They focus on the different methods used to design these foundations and the factors affecting their performance.

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Photo by Nicholas Doherty on Unsplash

Photo by Nicholas Doherty on Unsplash

Why is it important?

OWTs must withstand strong winds, currents, waves, icing, marine life growth, and seabed erosion. However, the standard method for designing OWT monopile foundations, called “p-y analysis,” has many shortcomings. For instance, it does not consider the three dimensional interactions between the soil layers and the monopile base. Moreover, the method was devised for piles with a much smaller diameter than that of modern OWTs. This review puts together experimental and numerical studies on new design techniques. These include updated p-y analyses and computational approaches, such as the finite element method. They can be useful in improving the design of monopile foundations and realizing low costs. KEY TAKEAWAY: This review suggests the need for a further deep dive into the factors affecting the performance of OWTs. This will pave the way toward affordable clean energy. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure • SDG 13: Climate Action • SDG 14: Life Below Water • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth