A Feasibility Analysis Tool for Floating Offshore Wind Energy Conversion Systems

Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) units are electric energy intensive systems and are typically fed by gas turbine generators and, thus, have a large operational carbon footprint. Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) can be a way to generate electricity in a more sustainable way for such isolated power systems, but their feasibility depends on a number of factors, such as technology and environmental conditions. This work introduces a feasibility analysis tool designed to evaluate the energy potential of regions where FOWTs might be beneficial. The methodology is based on a statistical analysis of wind data to derive an analytical model of wind incidence. This model serves as input for the proposed tool, which integrates a detailed representation of the wind energy conversion system (WECS), including the FOWT, permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), back-to-back power converter, and transmission lines. The tool outputs key performance metrics, including wind statistics, capacity factor, mechanical and electrical powers, energy generation potential, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, offering valuable insights into the economic, environmental and technical viability of wind energy resources integration into FPSO units. A case study is presented which shows the analysis of the energy potential in one of the leading oil basins of the pre-salt fields on the Brazilian coast, highlighting its applicability to future offshore renewable energy projects.