ABSTRACT
Wind energy harvesting is one of the recent and most successful tasks, which is also quite promising. However, offshore wind turbines are encompassed with many challenges that arise from the design of the support system apart from the mast. Efficient operations of offshore wind turbines are more dependent on the support systems on which they are mounted. Increased stability with a lesser stress concentration on the rigid connections is preferred. Offshore triceratops is the new-generation offshore compliant platform, alleviating the encountered environmental loads by its innovative structural geometry. Ball joints placed between the deck and buoyant legs isolate the deck partially by restraining rotation from the buoyant legs to the deck and vice-versa. Offshore wind turbine foundations are selected based on many factors, such as cost, dynamic response, safety, and risks. With little installation risk and the ability to deploy in most areas, the offshore triceratops seems to be one of the best alternatives. The relatively easy installation process of the triceratops type of offshore wind farm is a key advantage since some of the most significant technical and economic risks of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are connected to the installation phase. Additionally, the triceratops design is a highly cost-effective option that provides excellent stability in wind and waves. However, since no full-scale testing has been conducted, the concept has the lowest technology readiness level compared to other floating platforms, increasing the risk of uncertainty in cost and technology. This chapter presents detailed studies on a fully coupled three-dimensional hydro-aerodynamic model of a wind turbine mounted on a triceratops. The service life of the wind turbine is also examined under both parked and unparked conditions.
