New Project in US Studying FRP Monopile Design for 10-15 MW Turbines

Entrion Wind and Acteon (through InterMoor) have signed an agreement to jointly conduct a feasibility study of a patent-pending fully restrained platform (FRP) monopile design offshore Massachusetts in water depths of between 35 and 85 metres.

The companies said they aimed to optimise the FRP design for 10 MW and 15 MW turbines to minimise the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and de-risk the solution for large-scale deployment.

The study will assess whether the concept works for a specific site, estimate impacts on LCOE from Capex and Opex, and identify and evaluate project risks and opportunities.

An overall goal of the project is to support the development and commercialisation of the FRP monopile design, for which Entrion Wind conducted a proof of concept study in 2020.

For the proof of concept, various FPR monopile configurations were modelled in water depths of between 40 and 100 metres, hosting a 10 MW turbine weighing 800 tonnes above the transition piece (TP).

Subject to the cost target being met, after the feasibility study, Acteon and Entrion may collaborate in a future FEED study for a specific site and Entrion Wind may request Acteon to provide mooring EPCI services for a follow-on pilot or demonstration project.