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New low-cost offshore wind turbine designed and patented

The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) has designed and patented a floating platform for offshore wind turbines which reduces energy costs by increasing efficiency and using cheaper building materials.

Researchers from the UPC Environmental and Civil Engineering Department have developed a cost effective floating platform concept for offshore wind turbines to address customer needs such as low-cost and affordable offshore wind platforms, and the installation of wind turbines in deep water to increase the potential offshore wind generation capacity.

The prototype WindCrete is a cylindrical structure with a large float and a ballast base providing self stability. The main innovation of this model compared to other similar on the market, is the seamless and monolithic structure and the use of concrete as construction material since it reduces the maintenance and building costs.

The prototype has been developed in the framework of the AFOSP project (European Alternative floating offshore substructure for offshore wind farms) funded by KIC-InnoEnergy.

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