Experimental investigation of a co-located wind and wave energy system in regular waves

Abstract

The integration of wave energy converters (WECs) into offshore wind farms offers a promising solution to potentially reduce the cost of both technologies. In a co-located wind-wave system, in addition to generating electricity, WECs can be used to reduce wave forces acting on the support structure of a wind turbine. This work aims to investigate the interactions between a fixed-bottom wind turbine substructure and a heaving WEC with a primary focus on wind turbine wave loads. For this purpose, physical experiments are developed and carried out using a 1:13 scale model of the WEC and the support structure of a wind turbine (monopile) in regular waves. The results demonstrate that active control of WEC motion can lead to a significant reduction in the horizontal forces acting on the wind turbine substructure.