The Glosten Associates, Inc. formally announced plans to commercialize their PelaStar floating wind turbine platform, and make the technology available to the global offshore wind energy industry within the year.
The Glosten PelaStar technology was recently selected for an intermediate-scale prototype installation project with deployment planned for next summer in the northeast United States. This selection reinforces the unique capability of the PelaStar platform to provide a scalable, integrated blade tip–to–seabed solution that minimizes the cost of energy in deepwater offshore wind sites.
Recognizing the need for a cost-effective, high performance floating turbine foundation system, Glosten engineers developed Tension-Leg Turbine Platform (TLTP) technology in 2006. This internal research and development effort led to a project for the Carbon Trust Offshore Wind Accelerator Program, which provided development support and allowed the technology to be vetted by Carbon Trust members including both international energy firms and offshore wind power developers.
The Glosten PelaStar tension leg platform (TLP) combines proven technology with rigorous research, development, and engineering. By adapting established TLP technology from the oil and gas industry and incorporating breakthroughs in critical structural, mooring, and anchoring elements, PelaStar has addressed the complex challenges of offshore wind power development. In addition to being the lowest cost deepwater solution, key benefits include: minimal motion, minimal steel weight, and complete quayside integration of the turbine and tower on the PelaStar foundation.
PelaStar is an optimal solution for fully-exposed, open-ocean sites with water depths greater than 60 meters, where bottom-fixed jacket structures become costly. The baseline PelaStar design supports current 5MW to 6MW offshore wind turbine systems and is being scaled to support next generation turbines of 10MW and greater.
Glosten Associates is an engineering consultancy based in Seattle, Washington. For over 50 years, Glosten has been recognized throughout the marine community for innovative solutions, integrating cutting-edge analysis with practical, experience-based design. Glosten brings the wind power industry a unique capability to provide complete offshore solutions – balancing the development of optimal designs requiring optimal motions and advanced structural systems with the realities of construction, operations, and maintenance logistics in a harsh and competitive offshore environment.
[mappress]
Source: glosten, July 20, 2011