Tidal and Wind Energy Structures
Supporting the future of renewable energy
Cape Horn Engineering uses high-fidelity CFD simulation to improve the performance, safety, and efficiency of tidal and wind energy structures. We work with floating wind platforms, tidal turbines, mooring systems, and offshore service vessels. Our methods are validated against experimental data and used by clients including Repsol, Spiralis Energy, and Naiad Dynamics.
We care passionately about the environment and firmly believe the world needs to concentrate its efforts in developing efficient solutions for producing renewable energies. We have a strong desire to apply our skills and technology to contribute to this development and improve the performance of wind or ocean energy structures using renewables. We are keen on partnering in regional or global R&D efforts for developing novel and improved renewable energy structures and reduce the cost of energy and increase safety and reliability. Our simulations can be applied to any type of offshore platform, including different types of mooring systems, for offshore wind, ocean waves and tidal energy.
Our expertise makes a difference when it comes to investigating high fatigue load, noise emissions or meeting stringent reliability and safety standards. Our vast experience with the free surface for floating bodies under the effect of the external forces of wind and waves can be applied to offshore floating platforms in greater depths, as it can be applied to any type of vessel.
What are tidal and wind energy structures?
Tidal and wind energy structures are the physical systems designed to capture renewable energy from ocean currents, tides, and wind, both onshore and offshore. They include floating offshore wind platforms, fixed-bottom wind turbines, tidal turbines, wave energy converters, and the mooring systems that hold them in place. As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, the engineering challenge is to make these structures safer, more efficient, and commercially viable in demanding ocean environments.
How we can support your design project
- Improve rotor blade performance including section profiles
- Motions and extreme loads of offshore floating platforms
- Investigate mooring systems
- Investigate wave energy structures
- Investigate tidal turbine structures
- Reduce noise emissions and vibrations
- Reduce high fatigue load
- Meet stringent safety standards
- High fidelity, CFD-based wind and tidal forecast embedded in global models
How our technology solutions can help you
Floating Wind Platforms
With our expertise in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics we can assess and compare the performance of different types of renewable energy structures. We have experience in high-fidelity modelling of Offshore Wind Platform motions under the effect of waves, current and wind to investigate high fatigue load cases, extreme load events, meeting stringent reliability and safety standards.
Tidal Energy Structures
As the worldwide demand for clean electricity and renewable fuel grows, it is crucial to identify and secure more sustainable energy resources, beyond what is currently available. As tidal power is more predictable and consistent than wind or solar energy, it is an intriguing renewable energy source to pursue. To fully harness tidal energy as a significant source of clean energy, it is critical that researchers explore ways to increase its viability for being commercially feasible. Cape Horn Engineering are keen to partner in R&D efforts with Tidal Energy companies to analyse concept designs of tidal energy structures to help improve their performance and efficiency and to reduce environmental impacts on marine life.
Service Operation Vessels (SOV), Crew Transfer Vessels (CTV)
In addition to helping to improve the performance of wind or ocean energy structures we also apply our technology and expertise to the Service Operation Vessels (SOV), Crew Transfer Vessels, (CTV) and other work boats that are required to operate offshore, sometimes in hazardous weather and extreme sea states. At Cape Horn Engineering we have developed statistical models to characterise a vessels motion in response to an irregular sea state, allowing long term operability analysis of a vessel operating in a particular location. We can assist in significantly improving safety, comfort and workability for wind farm technicians, even in the roughest sea conditions.
Case Studies
See our case studies on Renewable Energy
Simulations
Cape Horn Engineering was appointed by the global energy company Repsol to conduct CFD simulations on two types of offshore wind turbine platforms. The two types of off-shore platforms investigated were a semi-submersible floating platform (FFP) with a spread catenary mooring system and a Tension Leg Platform or TLP.
Cape Horn Engineering deeply investigated the San Francisco Bay weather condition through coupling of the WRF mesoscale model with a CFD simulation. Influence of CFD RANS, LES or DES plus different Turbulence model techniques were evaluated along with mesh density and data interpolation methods.
At Cape Horn Engineering we apply our expertise in flow analysis and simulation automation from America’s Cup sailing wings technology into wind turbine blades. We have experience in design optimisation for blades, turbine appendages, flow interaction between hub and blades, and aero-elastic instability mechanisms such as flutter.
