DNV will present the progress in addressing technical challenges and establishing an industry-wide standard for floating substations. The substation is a key structure for an offshore wind farm as it unlocks transmission of energy to the consumer. For foreseen remote and deep-water floating wind farms, the design of substations is at present an unsolved challenge, although different concepts are under development. To help the wind industry address one of its bottle-necks for future scaling of floating wind, DNV has initiated a JIP, that will define design and qualification requirements and a standard for floating substations.

In recent years, the wind industry has increasingly turned towards floating wind. Initially focusing on the challenges involved with one or a few turbines, substations come as a next step when considering scaling-up to wind farms. This involves pushing technology limits. For example, dynamic export cables are typically of a higher specification than array cables. This JIP looks at robust methods for avoiding e.g. fatigue failures and associated risk for loss of production. For the substation power components onboard the floater, the combination of performance requirements and exposure to marine motions represent new technology. The JIP maps out the potential consequences involved and addresses how to qualify this technology and whether it sets limitations to floater and mooring design. Wind farm developers, suppliers and TSO’s and DNV are behind the JIP results, which will be applicable industry-wide and captured in standards to drive standardization, lower project risk and cost and provide basis for future certification.