FLOAT&M is a project involving a consortium made up of: Saitec Offshore Technologies, as project coordinator; Aeroblade, Alerion, Sener, Mugape, Nautilus, Ditrel, Vicinay Cadenas, Lumiker, Vicinay Sestao, Core Marine, Sidenor, Inalia and Navacel. It also has the collaboration of research centres such as Tecnalia, Tekniker, CEIT, Azterlan, MU, Sidenor I+D and Vicinay Marine Innovación.
The goal is to create a comprehensive solution focused on the operation and maintenance of floating offshore wind, addressing the multiple challenges that arise in this phase of projects. Through the use of new technologies and digital tools such as drones, robots, connectors and digital solutions, among others, the aim is to improve efficiency, facilitate asset monitoring and reduce personnel interventions to increase the competitiveness of projects.
In 2022, some of the FLOAT&M lines of action were as follows:
The development of data-based mathematical models to estimate maintenance costs (reactive, preventive, predictive).
It has also investigated different strategies for remote and automated access and inspection on floating platforms, which has made it possible to work on a baseline document for the inspection and maintenance of the mooring lines of floating wind farms.
The use of drones has also been addressed, designing a sensorised beacon system for the floating platform, associated with the autonomous landing and take-off of drones on floating moving platforms. The next step will be the validation of the device on a demonstrator in a real environment.
Another development under study is the feasibility analysis of connecting and disconnecting the umbilical cable remotely, taking into account the loads, required distances and sizing of the equipment needed to carry out the operation.
In addition, in order to develop fibre-optic-based strain measurement systems, weldable supports for Bragg fibres have been designed and developed, obtaining a linear response over a wide strain range.
Finally, it is worth noting that new coatings and surface treatments have been carried out and validated for concrete and/or steel — anti-corrosion, anti-ice, antifouling, ecological and with an adaptable, versatile formulation — that favour the repaintability of the system and increase its service life, with particular emphasis on reducing maintenance costs and improving repairability.
This project has been supported by the expense budget of the Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of the Basque Government and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
