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New developments can reduce costs eg. single mooring point around which a floating turbine swivels to catch the wind. The narcelle does not rotate, so no yaw drive or motor, the various floating foundations, some with tension structures are up 4 to 8 times lighter than most current spar and semi-submersible floating foundations . There are number of EU programs to see if this is worthwhile, cost reductions, varying wind and wave directions, reduced output, etc.

X1 Wind floating turbine with one point mooring https://www.x1wind.com/x1wind-technology/

Aerodyn Nezzy 2 x 7.5 MW innovative (15MW) floating twin turbine with one point mooring (no yaw control/motor) http://aerodyn-engineering.com/scd-technology-scd-nezzy/

Hexicon TwinWind 2 x 3-15 MW innovative (6-30MW) floating twin turbine with one point mooring (no yaw control/motor) https://www.hexicongroup.com/twinwind/

Mingyang OceanX 2 x 8.3MW  (16.6MW) floating offshore wind turbine with tensegrity structure and one point mooring (no yaw control/motor) but 2 blades broke before it was installed !!

https://reneweconomy.com.au/mingyangs-two-headed-floating-wind-turbine-begins-operations-despite-fractures-in-giant-blades/

Touchwind single horizontal/tilted rotor with now semi-submersible, probably tension leg 3 point mooring floating foundation (no yaw control/motor) https://touchwind.org/

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More radical is kite wind power which can substantially reduce the quantity of concrete and steel.

See an EROEI analysis by Euan Means from 2016

kite based wind turbines >300, much better than standard HAWT (Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines) at ~ 20 http://euanmearns.com/the-eroei-of-high-altitude-wind-power/

The Kitegen Powerwing 3MW model is relatively simple with a :

- ground based generator

- ground based control (2 tethers)

- large semi-flexible rigid wing to withstand high forces (soft fabric wing only up to 1MW)

- multiple units can be stacked in time and space to maximise output

- 400 metre altitude proposed but higher is better (power cube law)

- but requires some breeze at ground to launch so it uses a telescopic revolving arm to launch and fans in low wind speeds

So

- no kite attached controls

- no electric cable from kite to ground

- no ultra high speeds (and stresses) required to turn propellers (Manaki and others)

With the development of drone technology you can with a small rechargeable battery and folding props self launch, recharge and retrieve eg Skypull but it seems to have fallen by the wayside.

The floating platform/hull can be combined with a wave / tidal generator eg Wello Penguin in hull pendulum / WaveSwell improved Oscillating Water Column device / tidal device Orbital Marine O2 .

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Thanks Dave. I aim to attend online in person hybrid lecture by Prof Atilla Incecik Glasgow 14th January. A lot hanging on further development of floating offshore WT!

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