Traditionally, the logic has been relatively straightforward: conventional Bottom-Fixed (B-F) foundations dominate in shallow waters; beyond 70 - 75 m of depth, floating becomes the natural solution.

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Recently, however, this distinction has been challenged with several emerging concepts that explore ways of taking B-F or hybrid foundations into water depths previously considered the domain of floating wind and hence opens vast offshore areas with favorable wind conditions.

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However, to reach these areas a new cost-effective and robust method for WTG installation and MCR is needed, as they are outside water depths for traditional jack-up vessels. This issue is solved by using WindSpider technology.

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How do we install and maintain wind turbines on those deep-water foundations economically?

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New deep-water, bottom-fixed foundations are intended to support some of the largest WTGs ever deployed, often in water depths where installation with conventional jack-up vessels becomes increasingly demanding.

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This issue is solved by WindSpider, a modular lifting system capable of handling very large turbines that could provide a different installation strategy — one that utilizes the turbine tower for support, without requiring the installation vessel itself to grow in size and lifting capacity.

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WindSpider’s WS-1200 is designed specifically for the installation of +13 MW turbines, with a lifting capacity of 1200 tonnes and a lifting height exceeding 200m. The system uses the WTG tower as part of the lifting structure, allowing the heavy-lift capability to scale with the turbine rather than with the installation vessel. This opens the possibility of using a much wider range of vessels — including existing monohull heavy lift vessels.

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Vast areas for deep-water bottom-fixed

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Recent TGS | 4C’s analysis, published at Wind Europe earlier this year, examined offshore wind resources in 60–400 m water depth range and challenged the status quo of the B-F vs floating division. Their analysis estimated that more than 70% of global wind resources have traditionally been associated with floating wind, but that share could fall as hybrid and deep-water fixed-bottom technologies mature.

Promising foundation technologies

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Several recent articles, including those from Recharge and Riviera, have highlighted a growing number of deep-water fixed-bottom and hybrid solutions. Among them are the Articulated Wind Column by AWC Tech/ODE, PelaFlex GS by Marine Power Systems, FTLP+ by OSI Renewables, Neretek BC90 by Neretek, and the Fully Restrained Platform by Entrion Wind, with developers such as SSE Renewables and CIP exploring their potential.

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Promising cheaper deep-water wind, these technologies appear to be more than a collection of interesting engineering concepts. We believe these technologies have the potential to open up areas in water depths between 75 m and 150 m, creating a substantial new frontier for fixed-bottom and hybrid solutions and potentially reshaping the economics of fixed versus floating wind.

Near-term auction award

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With the UK now adjusting its policy framework to create a new Other Deepwater Offshore Wind (ODOW) category, allowing these hybrid and deep-water solutions to compete for Contracts for Difference (CfD) support, the shift is beginning to look less like a possibility and more like an emerging reality. The auction strike price for this category is set at the same level as for floating wind £271/MWh.

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The new category is being put to the test in the UK’s eighth CfD Allocation Round (AR8), with auction results expected around New Year and no later than March 2027.

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For sources and further reading see links provided in our LinkedIn article:

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https://www.linkedin.com/posts/windspider_windspider-an-enabler-for-a-new-frontier-activity-7501540716452548608-l2NT?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABGJtRABggtS6yAFREU5lWwkl-phS2qyQf4