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DNV GL supports Tokyo Gas with Principle Power investment

By: Tom Russell 30/07/2020 DNV GL

General Windfarms

DNV GL has supported Tokyo Gas with an assessment of key technical and market risks ahead of a USD 22 million investment in Principle Power Inc.’s WindFloat technology.

As a major player in the Japanese energy industry, Tokyo Gas is working to build renewable energy sources both in Japan and globally, and beyond to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions, as set out in its Vision “Compass2030”.

In its role of exclusive technical advisor to Tokyo Gas for this deal, DNV GL assessed the risks of deploying such technology in the Japanese and global markets as well as the specifics of Principle Power’s WindFloat technology, including a comparison with other floating wind technologies available worldwide.

“We have a strong local team in Japan who were able to leverage our center of excellence for floating wind located in Norway to support Tokyo Gas in assessing this investment. As floating wind is deployed around the globe, our center of excellence is ready to bring this support to many other customers as well,” said Nicholas Renon, Executive Vice President for DNV GL’s Energy business in Asia Pacific.

Principle Power's WindFloat semi-submersible foundation technology features a platform and three columns which can support offshore wind turbines. Patented water entrapment (heave) plates are fitted at the base of each column. The plates “entrain” water, resulting in a large added-mass component and the sharp edges of the plates increasing the viscous damping due to vortex shedding.

In addition, WindFloat’s patented hull-trim system (also known as active ballast) distributes water ballast between three columns to compensate for variable turbine thrust due to low frequency changes in wind velocity and direction.

The WindFloat design enables the structure to be fully assembled onshore and towed to its final location. The mooring configuration is similar to those on oil and gas platforms and permanently moored maritime structures. Drag embedment anchors permit installation in various soil conditions including mud, clay, sand and layered soils.

The floating technology was implemented in a first of its kind prototype, WindFloat 1, near Póvoa do Varzim, which was installed back in 2011. The project was a full life cycle demonstration featuring a Vestas V-80 2 MW turbine, and was decommissioned last year.

Towards the end of last year (2019), the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic project, Europe’s first floating wind farm, was connected to the grid in Portugal. It was recently fully commissioned.

Other projects using WindFloat foundations include the 50 MW Kincardine Project in Scotland and 30 MW Golfe du Lion project in the south of France, which are expected to come online between 2020 and 2022.

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here.

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DNV GL supports Tokyo Gas with Principle Power investment

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