Subsea Power Cables - Subsea cables transmit power from offshore turbines to onshore grids.

As the industry seeks to tap into the powerful, consistent winds found in deeper waters, the limitations of fixed-bottom foundations become apparent. This has given rise to the next frontier: floating offshore wind. Instead of being driven into the seabed, these turbines are mounted on floating platforms tethered to the seafloor by mooring lines and anchors.  This technology opens up a vast new resource of wind energy in areas with water depths exceeding 60 meters, where traditional foundations are not economically or technically feasible.

There are several types of floating platforms, each with its own design philosophy. Semi-submersibles are ballasted, semi-submerged structures that use buoyancy and mooring lines for stability. Spar platforms are long, slender cylinders that rely on a deep draft and a low center of gravity to remain upright. Tension-leg platforms are held in place by vertical tendons that provide exceptional stability. While still a nascent technology, floating offshore wind is advancing rapidly. The ability to install wind farms in locations previously considered impossible is a game-changer, promising to unlock an enormous amount of clean energy potential and make countries with deep coastlines, such as those in the Mediterranean, major players in the market.