Cornwall FLOW Accelerator
Reducing carbon intensity of floating offshore wind projects is at the heart of the Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind Accelerator project. The project ran until June 2023 and was funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Celtic Sea Power Worked in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, the University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter to deliver:
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A coordinated series of data campaigns to provide a pilot for an integrated development process to accelerate project timelines and reduce the carbon cost of surveying.
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A sustainable regional industry by collaborating with regional ports and Cornish companies to expand capacity, skills and workforce so that they can form a key part of the supply process.
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Research and development in low carbon technologies and methodologies for the installation and maintenance of floating offshore wind turbines in the Celtic Sea region.
Summative Assessment
To find out more about the CFA project and its successes you can read the full summative assessment and evaluation report here.
” The Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind Accelerator project has more than achieved what it set out to do with impressive clarity of ambition and quality of execution. “
” I’m not sure that without this project we’d have had the level of interest from Government in the carbon intensity of FLOW. “
” The project will make the whole supply chain ecosystem in Cornwall
better prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead. “
FLiDAR Campaign
Celtic Sea Power deployed two floating LiDAR buoys from Falmouth Harbour to two locations around 60 miles offshore in the Celtic Sea as part of the Cornwall FLOW Accelerator. The FLiDAR buoys spent one year recording data on the wind conditions, and other environmental factors, in the Celtic Sea to support the acceleration of floating offshore wind in the region.
The data collected by the FLiDAR buoys is available from the Celtic Sea Power data hub.
Digital Aerial Surveys
Celtic Sea Power commissioned APEM, using Cornwall FLOW Accelerator funding, to deliver a programme of Digital Aerial Surveys of the Celtic Sea. The aim was to collect datato support the regional environmental characterisation of the Celtic Sea.
The lack of bird and marine mammal data for the area was leading to projected 2-3 year survey periods for offshore wind developments and creating an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) risk due to the lack of relevant data and evidence. This first of its kind “Regional Characterization Programme” was designed with Natural England, RSPB, JNCC and Natural Resources Wales to ensure a sound evidence base was created to support future consenting.
Airborne LiDAR
Celtic Sea Power’s airborne LiDAR survey, conducted by APEM, was used to measure the flight heights of seabirds in the Celtic Sea. The data is contributing towards the development of a regional bird density and distribution model. This will maximize spatial and temporal data coverage for relevant species that can feed into both Regional and National density and distribution modelling activities. It will also enable a more strategic view to be taken of the key potential species interactions in the area, supporting the assessment of FLOW in the Celtic Sea.
DP Simulator
The Cornwall FLOW Accelerator funded the new University of Plymouth Dynamic Positioning Simulator, which offers unique integration capabilities for the research and development of technologies including offshore renewable energy.
More information can be found here.
Ec Simulator
The Ec Simulator is a floating offshore wind simulator designed by the University of Exeter, using Cornwall FLOW Accelerator Funding as a vehicle to help provide research-led expertise to reduce carbon footprints and underpin FLOW operations.
More information can be found here.
Funded by
In partnership with
Project Outputs
All Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind Accelerator reports can be found here.
Innovation in Low Carbon Design and Manufacturability
Wind Turbine Blades Design and Manufacturing
A desk-based benchmarking study into the opportunities for low carbon manufacture of turbine blades, outlining the current state-of-the-art and exploring some concepts for the immediate future of blade manufacturing in the Southwest of England. This report includes a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) of an up-to-date reference blade design which will act as the reference point for future estimates on costing and LCA.
Reducing Carbon Footprint of Tower Manufacturing
A literature review examining the current state-of-the-art materials that are used in wind turbine towers, alternative materials, alternative structures and improved manufacturing processes. This report aims to identify areas of potential interest for future development.
Reducing Carbon Emissions from Towers
A follow up report on the Reducing Carbon Footprint of Tower Manufacturing literature review carried out earlier in the Cornwall Flow Accelerator project. Taking the knowledge gained and applying it to a life cycle analysis to pinpoint specific areas that are relevant for tower designs, highlighting the key opportunities for emissions reduction.
Reducing Carbon Footprint of Floating Foundation Manufacturing
A literature review examining the current state-of-the-art materials that are used in the floating offshore wind turbine floaters, alternative materials, alternative structures and improved manufacturing processes; aimed at identifying areas of potential interest for future development.
A report identifying the key opportunities for reducing carbon emissions in a floating structure, building on the initial knowledge gained from the Reducing Carbon Footprint of Floating Foundation Manufacturing literature review and apply it to an LCA of a prospective “reduced carbon design” in order to practically demonstrate the opportunities available for carbon reductions.
Reducing Carbon Emissions from Floating Substructures
A report identifying the key opportunities for reducing carbon emissions in a floating structure, building on the initial knowledge gained from the Reducing Carbon Footprint of Floating Foundation Manufacturing literature review and apply it to an LCA of a prospective “reduced carbon design” in order to practically demonstrate the opportunities available for carbon reductions.
The Role of Innovative Technology in Decision Making and Faster Consenting
A report providing an overview of the current consenting process for offshore wind in the UK and exploring if and where the potential exists for smart technology to streamline the data gathering, analysis and decision making process to accelerate consenting.
A report summarizing the current consenting process for offshore wind in the UK and explores if and where the potential exists for smart technology to streamline the data gathering, analysis and decision making process to accelerate consenting.
Celtic Sea Power’s concrete position paper, outlining the capability of regional concrete.
Exploring the Potential Interactions between Floating Offshore Wind and Hydrogen
A report exploring hydrogen production routes, with a focus on electrolysis; cost projections for hydrogen produced from offshore wind; a comparison of blue and green hydrogen costs; green hydrogen production in the UK in the context of global markets; forecasts on the size of the global hydrogen markets and the contribution of green hydrogen; key markets for hydrogen in Cornwall and South Wales; and supply chain opportunities, with a focus on UK companies which are developing new hydrogen technologies.
Future Potential Role of Offshore Multipurpose Connectors
A report presenting a strategic offshore transmission network for the Celtic Sea that considers multipurpose connectors in the form of multipurpose offshore substations and multipurpose interconnectors from the comparison of bottom-fixed jacket substructures and floating structures for offshore substations.
Low Carbon Offshore Processes
Low Carbon Installation and O&M Strategy
A report highlighting the expected operational expenditure and vessel emissions incurred at a hypothetical floating offshore wind farm located off the southwest coast of the UK as well as giving an indication of port requirements, based on results from the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s internal operations and maintenance simulation model.
Low Carbon Installation Logistics
A study investigating the optimal batch number and batch size for the installation of a 500MW wind farm in the Celtic Sea, utilizing thirty-four 15MW wind turbine generators at a location adjacent to South Wales. Key considerations for optimization were the minimization of carbon emissions, minimization of installation cost, and the prioritization of timely grid connection. Key constraints considered were port proximity, port capacity, installation fleet compositions, and the associated fleet capability within the available weather windows for identified installation tasks.
Low Carbon Vessel and Energy Vector Analysis
A report investigating and reviewing energy vectors and low-carbon vessel options in relation to floating offshore wind and discussing their ability to decarbonize the shipping sector.
Low Carbon Simulator Data Platform
FLOW Supply Chains and Installation Analysis
A report exploring manufacturing supply chains and installation task requirements influencing FLOW development timescales. This report discusses the effect of upstream manufacturing capacity and duration on port storage requirements and project timescales; the effect of installation vessel availability and task duration on storage requirements and project timescales; the influence of metocean conditions on the timescales required for installation and assembly tasks, and the subsequent knock-on impact on port storage requirements.
Low Carbon FLOW Simulator Development
FLOW Farm Model at Specific Celtic Sea Sites
A report introducing the functionality of the beta version of the Ec simulator, presenting the results of an example case study that was conducted using its modules. The case study explores different scenarios for 1 GW FLOW farm sites in the Celtic Sea, detailing the output of the Ec simulator to provide predictions for investment, development, and operational costs, carbon intensity and carbon dioxide equivalent emission savings, and energy return on investment at various phases of development.
Low Carbon Installation and Operations and Maintenance Simulator Design
A report providing an overview of the alpha version of the Ec Simulator as well as providing insight into its design and early development, along with the University of Exeter’s plans to extend its functionality and improve its usability.
