Innovative Anchoring System for Floating Offshore Wind—Triton Systems, Inc., Chelmsford, MA, 200 Turnpike Road, Chelmsford, MA 1824-440

Zachary Miller, Principal Investigator, zmiller@tritonsys.com

Collette Jolliffe, Business Official, cjolliffe@tritonsystems.com

Amount:  $1,149,965

Capital expenditure is the greatest cost driver for offshore wind offering the greatest potential to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and make wind energy competitive with other sources of energy. In general, mooring hardware comprises 10% of CAPEX, and 16% in tension leg platforms. With total CAPEX for a wind farm project in the billions of dollars, mooring cost is a significant opportunity, especially on the West coast of the United States, where water depths are much deeper and floating turbines are needed. In the offshore floating wind sector, traditional anchoring systems use large heavy weights, caissons, driven piles, or drag embedment anchors to achieve the high-pullout forces required for wind turbine moorings. High weights and forces ultimately convert into high costs. Additionally, the floating wind sector is contending with mooring and anchoring options that are mature, but not realistic for large wind farms. This will lead to higher than expected costs and permitting issues unless addressed. Triton is developing HAGISTM, an anchoring system, designed for offshore wind sites, economic drivers, and mass production. Our product is based on highly efficient helical anchors that will reduce LCOE. It consists of an anchor and installation tool that solves the traditional challenges with installing these anchors subsea.  Lower manufacturing costs of the anchor, faster installation times, lower noise for the subsea tool over a driven pile hammer are just a few of the benefits. During the DOE Phase I and II efforts, Triton has built a pilot-scale prototype of the anchor installation tool, modeled anchor performance, and is conducting anchor testing. Work under a Phase IIB effort will increase anchor and installation tool TRL to support qualification of the anchor system for subsequent operational testing and commercialization. The objective of the Phase IIB effort is to have a favorable American Bureau of Shipping technology maturity and risk assessment in place and an action plan to address any items of concern. Triton will focus on demonstrating anchor capacity at relevant scales and load conditions and collecting test data that will convince stakeholders that HAGIS is ready for an offshore test. Triton Systems and its partners have shown reduction in both anchor fabrication and installation, 25-50% and 10-30% respectively. These initial costs savings will provide the a lower LCOE costs for floating offshore wind energy. Given the unique sea/market conditions in the US initial market: the North Atlantic (Gulf of Maine) and the Pacific (offshore West Coast), Triton’s technology will offer flexible alternatives that meet the local needs on both coasts as a key element of a successful market adoption.