From Pilot Projects to Megawatt-Scale Commercial Floating Wind Farms: Flotation Energy Tackles the Challenges of Deepwater Wind Development, Driving Global Wind Industry Growth

Indeed, the government is hearing a lot of different voices, especially since floating windfarms are a relatively new technology. At Flotation Energy, we have a team of professionals who have worked on floating wind farms, and we've gained first-hand experience and learned valuable lessons. Engineering, by nature, is a continuous learning process, and sometimes the learning curve can be expensive. We hope the government will take our advice because we not only have the experience, but we've also turned that experience into actual project outcomes.

By Xin-En Wu

Flotation Energy has established itself as a pioneering developer in the floating wind sector. Founded in Scotland in 2018, the company boasts a global development portfolio exceeding 13 GW, with projects in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Japan and Taiwan.

In 2020, the topic of floating offshore wind farms in Taiwan first emerged, and Flotation Energy, one of the few early entrants into the Taiwanese market, has been at the forefront of this development. Since 2022 it has been part of the Renewable Power division of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Group, a Japanese energy powerhouse.

Flotation Energy is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy and advancing wind power technology in deepwater offshore locations. In Taiwan, its flagship project is the Chu Tin Floating Windfarm, Located off the coast of Hsinchu the project, once fully operational will have a total installed capacity of 1.2 GW, aiming to unlock the deepwater offshore wind potential in the Taiwan Strait.

Beyond Taiwan, Flotation Energy is also developing the pioneering Green Volt and Cenos floating wind projects in Scotland, with 1.9 GW of renewable capacity, supporting Scotland's net-zero targets. These projects will sit adjacent to oil and gas facilities, powering them with clean, electricity from offshore wind, and also sending power back to the UK Grid. Other key projects include the White Cross floating test and demonstration project and Morecambe fixed-bottom project, both in England, alongside other global developments in Japan, Australia and Ireland.

"I've been involved in numerous offshore projects, but I'd say I've been fully immersed in the renewable energy sector for about 5 years now," said Morgan Wilson, Technical Authority of Transport and Installation at Flotation Energy, as he enthusiastically shared his experiences.

"We have a project portfolio in the UK with a total capacity of around 3GW. The standout among them is our pioneering Green Volt project, a 560 MW development set to become the first commercial-scale floating wind farm in Europe and the world's largest. We've advanced this project at pace, with onshore and offshore consents granted in a record 14 months. In September 2024 we were awarded a UK Government Contract for Difference (CfD) under Allocation Round 6 (AR6)," Wilson stated.

The UK's floating wind projects began with Kincardine, which was conceptualized by the two founders of Flotation Energy.

Exclusive Interview with Morgan Wilson, Transport and Installation Technical Authority at Flotation Energy

This was proceeded in terms of delivery, by Hywind Scotland, with a total installed capacity of 30 MW. The successful operation of Hywind marked a significant breakthrough in the development of floating wind technology worldwide, as did Kincardine which followed shortly after in 2018. Located 15 kilometers off the coast of Aberdeen, the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm became fully operational in 2021 and, g remains the world's largest grid-connected floating windfarm, with a total capacity of 50 MW.

Allan MacAskill and Lord Nicol Stephen, Kincardine founders, then left Kincardine to set up Flotation Energy to bring floating wind and new fixed-bottom wind technology to the global offshore wind market.

"Green Volt has a capacity of up to 560 MW, with the windfarm located on Scotland's east coast and is a real front-runner project in UK offshore wind" said Wilson. He emphasized that Green Volt is a unique project, with part of the electricity generated being supplied to participating North Sea oil and gas platforms and additional power fed into the UK grid.

A Major Leap in Scale: Megawatt-Class Commercial Floating Windfarms Emerge

Wilson explained that such the significant leap in scale was part of a careful plan. "Many of our team members were involved in the Kincardine project, where we gained a wealth of experience, Green volt was conceptualized shortly after, but took time to plan and develop. Flotation Energy's White Cross project, a 100 MW test and demonstration floating development was actually the project that developed next. We were working on smaller T&D project plans in the 50 MW to 100 MW range, looking at how to scale up to commercial sites. However, with an experienced team, many of which had worked on Kincardine or other UK wind projects, we were able to accelerate the progress of Green Volt," Wilson stated

"Projects are always full of variables, but we focus on incremental expansion to build larger projects. After completing the 560 MW Green Volt, the next step will be our 1.4 GW Cenos project," Wilson stated.

When discussing the most challenging aspect of developing floating offshore wind farms, Wilson believes the key is "persistence."

"In every project, there's always a sense that things might not turn out as planned. There are constant obstacles—whether we have enough turbines, the necessary infrastructure, or if environmental issues arise. These were all issues faced on Kincardine, and similar challenges arose on Green Volt before consents were granted. Our defining characteristic is knowing how to persevere. We're like a mouse on a wheel, steadily pushing forward bit by bit until we ultimately accomplish our project milestones." Wilson reflected, recalling the experience vividly.

"The key is to keep moving forward. As we gain more experience, we learn how to overcome these obstacles. Each time we face a challenge, it reinforces that failure isn’t an option and that we've been through this before," Wilson explained.

Wilson further noted that the Kincardine project is an important component to the DNA of Flotation Energy. The company's founders were involved in developing Kincardine, and many team members came from that project. Although Flotation Energy does not own or operate Kincardine, much of the team’s knowledge and expertise originated there.

Government Support Stems from Its Confidence in the Industry

In Asia, particularly in Taiwan, the industry often emphasizes that government support is crucial to the survival of the sector. Wilson believes that Kincardine's Government funding propelled the project forward and spurred broader industry growth. "Although it was a small project, government support definitely instilled confidence in developing the supply chain, which requires significant investment and risk,"

Governments need to have enough confidence to invest ahead of actual demand. For example, port construction may need to begin two to three years in advance. " If $100 million is invested, there must be assurance that this investment can be recouped over at least a ten-year period," Wilson explained. Funding for smaller-scale projects has laid the foundation for future large-scale developments, much like the early fixed offshore wind farms in the UK, which now total around 30 GW, all of which began with government financial backing.

"While my expertise lies more in the technicalities of transport, installation, and port development, I can proudly say that our engineering team has accumulated extensive experience from projects worldwide. We are well-equipped to apply this knowledge to projects in Taiwan, ensuring that our global initiatives benefit from the same learning and development simultaneously," Wilson stated.

An analyst once pointed out that one of the key challenges in developing floating wind farms is the integration of Transport and Installation (T&I). "The biggest challenge is bringing everything together," Wilson remarked. The careful delivery and construction of these massive steel structures is critical to transforming them into fully operational assets, and this is where one of the core challenges lies.

"The demand for larger structures and cranes is growing. We need to build suitable vessels to get the job done. While turbines are becoming increasingly large, many vessels designed for 7 to 10 MW turbines have yet to fully recoup their costs and now we need even larger ships. This has certainly dampened some industry confidence in investment circles," Wilson explained.

"Finding the right vessels is already quite challenging for fixed turbines. Looking ahead to 2029, the market demand will be so large that companies will compete to secure vessels to complete their projects. The Taiwanese market is under significant pressure to introduce vessels capable of handling these large turbines," Wilson noted.

He further explained, "If turbines become too large, they will pose challenges. However, when it comes to vessels, floating turbines actually offer greater potential for development because these structures and installation methods differ from those of fixed turbines."

We have the potential to scale up even further with the next generation of turbines. While constructing installation vessels may pose a challenge, we can build larger cranes to handle these turbines. I believe that floating technology gives us even greater potential, especially as we move into deeper waters," Wilson remarked.

The Development of Floating Wind Farms: An Incredible Journey

"There are countless stories to tell. When I first started working on the Kincardine project, I didn’t have a single grey hair, but by the time it was finished, my hair had turned grey," Wilson said with a laugh. He elaborated, "Initially, we planned to complete the operation at a specific port, but we later discovered that the vessel’s draft was too deep to enter the port. As a result, we had to change plans and tow the wind farm structure to another port, a distance roughly twice the length of Taiwan (750 kilometers). The original design didn’t require such a long tow, but we couldn’t access the initial port due to the draft issue, so we switched to the Port of Rotterdam, where we used airbags to support the structure. We quickly adapted our strategy and successfully completed the task."

Wilson stated that he has always sought out complex projects throughout his engineering career. "For example, I was involved in constructing saturation diving systems that allow divers to work at depths of 350 meters—projects like these are full of challenges. In comparison, floating windfarms might seem simpler, but they come with their own set of technical hurdles. I enjoy these puzzle-like challenges because there is no one-size-fits-all solution—the procedures need to be written for specific operations. Engineers have the freedom to adapt designs based on specific conditions. As we gain more experience, we gradually find better solutions, which in turn helps the industry to mature," Wilson explained.

As one of the early companies involved in floating offshore wind farm development, Flotation Energy is well-acquainted with the situation in Taiwan. The government faces the challenge of having too many options, which leads to a wide range of opinions and perspectives. "Indeed, the government is hearing a lot of different voices, especially since floating windfarms are a relatively new technology. At Flotation Energy, we have a team of professionals who have worked on floating wind farms, and we've gained first-hand experience and learned valuable lessons. Engineering, by nature, is a continuous learning process, and sometimes the learning curve can be expensive. We hope the government will take our advice because we not only have the experience, but we've also turned that experience into actual project outcomes." Wilson explained.

Even though everyone talks about collaboration, true cooperation is absolutely key to success. "We now have successful projects like Kincardine as a foundation, and now with a commercial project like Green Volt, we plan to scale up to even larger projects in the future. This kind of development will significantly benefit the growth of the local supply chain. Our experience and knowledge will help Taiwan make greater strides in the floating wind farm sector. Projects like Green Volt demonstrate the reliability of floating wind technology for expanding offshore wind and highlight the potential access to effectively harness deeper water wind resources," Wilson stated.

Governments worldwide have a strong demand for this technology, as it plays a key role in achieving carbon reduction goals. Over the past five years, there has been a significant increase in global support and investment in floating wind farms. Taiwan's unique advantages, such as port infrastructure, strong wind speed, and coastal industrial activity, provide it with enormous potential, one factor fueling developers' optimism.

Transport and installation work requires a high level of precision, and the process is extremely complex, involving simulations of various procedures and timing sequences.

The Development of In-House Simulation Tool: Repeated Testing and Validation

"We use a mathematical modeling tool that can input over 500 variables and simulate the success rate of future installations based on 40-50 years of historical weather data. This model helps us optimize the best construction plan for each country, location and port and we collaborate with contractors to identify the most effective solutions. This system is the result of three years of research and has helped us solve numerous issues. By generating different scenarios, we determine the best practices and find the optimal approach." Wilson explained.

Such simulations are crucial, especially for planning during typhoon seasons. Wilson explained that the model analyses failure scenarios for when typhoons strike, allowing contractors to adjust their strategies. There are many simulated scenarios, and operations must be handled with care, as there is no room for error. "That’s why we ran more than 200 million simulations with the first model to build confidence. The model is vast, so we’ve had to create additional models to test its accuracy and ensure the logic is sound. Fixed windfarms have historical data to draw from, but floating windfarms don't yet have long-term data, so we have to constantly test and refine."

Wilson added that many aspects of floating wind farms are still unknown. There's a lot of uncertainty and complexity, which almost feels like magic, but it's supported by a wealth of experience.

Future Outlook for the Taiwanese Market and Global Demand

Looking back over the past five years, the demonstration and deployment of floating wind has made significant strides, with an increasing number of demonstration and pilot projects around the world.

These fast-progressing regions typically benefit from abundant wind resources, robust port infrastructure, and coastal industrial activity—factors that drive the industry's growth. Taiwan is no exception, and in fact, has even greater advantages in terms of wind conditions. As a result, Taiwan can fully leverage these favorable conditions to advance wind power development.

This trajectory suggests that Taiwan will eventually deploy floating turbines in areas with water depths greater than 50 meters. As technology matures, it will be possible to move further into deeper waters, where floating technology will become a necessary solution. Technological advancements will continue as well. Projects like Kincardine and shortly Green Volt too, operating in real-world environments, provide valuable experience for governments and industries across the entire sector.

Such projects have also driven the growth of the entire industry, leading to the development of new solutions. Taiwan must indeed enhance its industrial capacity to drive future growth and reduce costs. It's possible that some countries may seek to control costs as a way to encourage greater installed capacity. For Taiwan, this will be a gradual, step-by-step process.

About 5 years ago, Taiwan began generating power from offshore wind farms, but the efforts to reach this point started nearly a decade ago. The market has gradually opened up, become more liberalized, and entered the Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) phase. This progression has created tremendous value but also presents a challenge for Taiwan: how to sustain growth, ensure a continuous supply of green energy, and remain competitive in the global market.

This is indeed a complex issue. Although the government originally set policies to develop floating offshore wind farm technology, political changes and shifts in leadership may alter policy direction. As a result, demonstration projects for floating offshore wind farms will gradually evolve. Flotation Energy remains optimistic, believing that the industry needs to develop floating offshore wind farms to establish a complete and efficient supply chain.

"Collaboration and trust are the cornerstones of success. Our portfolio brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, which can help Taiwan further develop its floating wind sector while also strengthening the capacity of the local supply chain, laying the foundation for the long-term growth of the industry," Wilson concludes.

Government support for floating wind farms is steadily increasing around the world. Floating technology offers solutions for harnessing wind energy in deep waters, helping to meet carbon reduction targets. As the technology continues to mature and floating windfarms scale up, it is clear that floating wind will become a vital part of the global renewable energy landscape, and is key to supporting Taiwan's zero emissions goals.