Offshore Floating Solar
Sector: Energy – Offshore Renewables
The client: Confidential, Asia
Phase: FEED
Challenges:
SWAX’s client is developing a floating solar concept and has been exploring the possibility of deployment it in the offshore environment. Without an in-house engineering team, the client contracted SWAX for cost-effective support in the development of the concept. SWAX had previously worked on the concept ideation which resulted in a selected concept. This next phase focussed on concept development and FEED level dynamic analysis and refinement of the global structural design for the offshore environment.
Scope:
SWAX worked with the client to define the scope of work. We used a workshop session to brainstorm and select the scope elements that would add best value for this phase. We assembled a specialist engineering and analysis team to deliver the scope. We used Orcaflex to perform the dynamic analysis, developing a baseline Orcaflex model and performing sensitivities on key parameters (structural stiffness, wave height, current speed, wind speed, etc.).
SWAX performed design of the primary structure and successfully proved the feasibility of the structure in the offshore environment. The structural assessment included determination of the mass properties and material quantities for the selected concept. SWAX performed high-level structural stiffness calculations and conducted a preliminary assessment of the structural performance in extreme waves offshore.
Benefits/Business impact:
The SWAX team provided full project management and quality assurance as part of SWAX’s unique “Assured, Managed, Delivered” outsourced work process. SWAX’s specialist hydrodynamics and structural team adapted quickly and efficiently to changing requirements identified as the design evolved. This cost-effective approach to the design process achieved the optimum solution for the design.
