Floating offshore wind farm installation, challenges and opportunities: a comprehensive survey

The deployment of floating offshore wind farms marks a pivotal step in unlocking the vast potential of offshore wind energy and propelling the world towards sustainable energy solutions. Despite the compelling prospects of floating wind technology, its implementation is challenging. Complex installation procedures, associated high costs, and evolving regulations can hinder widespread adoption. However, these challenges present opportunities for innovation and cost reduction. This paper delves into the technical, operational, and economic aspects of floating offshore wind farm installation, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art. The analysis goes beyond simply describing the current landscape by critically examining the complexities involved in floating offshore wind farm installation. It identifies critical research areas for advancing floating wind technology towards broader adoption and greater efficiency. The findings underscore the critical need for standardised foundation designs, advanced installation methods, and robust collaboration between academia and industry. By fostering such collaboration, for example, by creating research consortiums or knowledge-sharing platforms, the floating wind industry can accelerate advancements and unlock its full potential as a clean and sustainable energy source.