Tow Tests Confirm Stability of GICON’s Floating Offshore Foundation

Analyses of the data from the latest tow tests conducted at the former hydraulic engineering and shipbuilding research station at the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) confirmed that the GICON®-SOF Floating Offshore Foundation can be towed at a wave height of 11.5 feet (3.5m) and speeds of up to 7 knots. The tests took place in October 2013 in a shallow water basin under controlled conditions and configurations.

Analyses Confirm Stability of GICON’s Floating Offshore Foundation

The GICON®-SOF responded robustly, which is proof that the fully-assembled structure including mounted turbine can be towed to the deployment location. A special transport barge will not be required as the GICON®-SOF is inherently stable. The series of tests also provided valuable data on resistance, towing configuration and swell behavior.

These positive test results mark another major step towards the realization of the Floating Offshore Foundation. They reinforce our confidence to successfully construct and deploy a full-scale model during 2014,” GICON’s CEO Prof. Jochen Grossmann said.

Previously, GICON had tested scale models of the SOF at tank facilities located at HSVA Hamburg in February 2012 and at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) in June 2013.

The GICON® SOF Floating Offshore Foundation is an exceptional innovation and provides new opportunities for offshore wind park development. It is designed to contribute to a more cost-effective offshore wind industry and can be deployed in both shallow water (from 65 ft. (20m) onwards) and deep water (up to 1640 ft. (500m)).

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GICON, January 21, 2014