MPS Floating Platform to Feature FibreMax Tendons

February 1, 2023, by Adnan Memija

Welsh company Marine Power Systems (MPS) has joined forces with FibreMax to provide integrated floating foundation and tendon solutions to the growing floating offshore wind sector.

The tendon solution will be used in the anchoring and moorings of MPS’ tension leg platform (TLP), called PelaFlex, to deliver the highest system stability and zero tilt, the partners said.

It will be the “world’s first” TLP with FibreMax tendons, made with Twaron fiber from Japan-headquartered Teijin.

Compared to traditional steel moorings synthetic cable offers a much better strength-to-weight ratio, longer operational life, and lower levels of maintenance, according to the partners.

“We’re proud to be part of the Marine Power Systems team and delivering our unique tendons for the World’s first TLP with synthetic tendons. This brings together two unique and innovative technologies, the PelaFlex floating platform and the FibreMax tendons made with circular Twaron (Aramid) fibres made by Teijin”, said Sander van Helvoort, Director Renewable Energy at FibreMax.

MPS’ floating offshore platform technology offers best-in-class cost compared to its peers due to the significantly reduced system mass, the companies said.

According to the press release, its modular and flexible design enables optimum local content delivery through a decentralised logistics model.

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Several companies have already chosen MPS’ modular floating platform technology for their offshore wind projects.

In September 2022, MPS awarded a contract to Windsy for the supply and deployment of the wind turbine to be used on the megawatt-scale wind and wave energy hybrid demonstrator.

A month later, the company secured another contract with one of the co-managers of the Aguçadoura test site offshore Viana do Castelo to deploy PelaFlex at the Portuguese test site.

In October 2022, MPS partnered with Simply Blue Group to develop a project proposal for the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round run by Crown Estate Scotland.

The collaboration between Simply Blue Group and MPS would see six wind turbines deployed on the MPS floating platform in water depth between 60 and 100 metres, delivering a total of 100 MW.