The PivotBuoy Project: a Case Study of a Single Point Mooring system with a TLP

The Single Point Mooring (SPM) technology has been widely used in Oil & Gas for decades, specifically for the connection of FPSOs (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading), but remains unknown to most of the wind industry. Nonetheless, in recent years an increasing number of floating solutions have proposed the use of SPM systems instead of multiple mooring systems to explore the advantages of this new setup.

For the past two years, X1 Wind has worked together with eight other partners from five different countries on the PivotBuoy project, a research and innovation action awarded under the Horizon 2020 program, with the objective to demonstrate a single point mooring system (SPM) which opens up new opportunities for floating offshore wind.

The PivotBuoy system combines the advantages of a SPM with a small Tension-Leg Platform (TLP), which coupled with a downwind turbine configuration, enables a complete redesign of the floating structure, and simplifies the installation process. The PivotBuoy system allows the floating structure to passively weathervane and self-align with the wind, without the need of an active yaw system.
In October, the project successfully installed the fully functional prototype (X30) of the PivotBuoy system, integrated with a downwind-adapted Vestas V29, at PLOCAN’s test site in the Canary Islands. This represents a major milestone for the industry as the TLP was installed using only local vessels, thus greatly simplifying the installation procedures typically required for this type of mooring system. The platform will be tested under real conditions until March 2023, and by the time of the conference, X1 Wind will be able to share results about the platform’s stability and performance, as well as its installation procedures.

These results will contribute to the technical knowledge of TLP designs and could open the door for additional academic work regarding this type of mooring.