Dear readers,

We are delighted to introduce you to the first edition of the TAILWIND project newsletter! As we begin our journey, we aim to keep you informed about the latest developments, insights, and milestones in our project, which is set to bring tangible innovation in the field of floating offshore wind energy.

Funded by the European Union, the TAILWIND project focuses on advancing the mooring and anchoring (station-keeping) technologies for floating offshore wind farms. Our goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of these innovative renewable energy systems by further developing materials and technologies towards efficiency and environmental friendliness. We are working on improving the sustainability of offshore wind farms by reducing raw material usage, exploring the recyclability of fibre ropes, and promoting the use of removable, reusable anchors.

TAILWIND aims to protect marine ecosystems while ensuring that floating wind farms can operate efficiently without causing harm to the marine environment. Through this project, we are addressing critical issues such as the reduction of seabed impact and minimizing noise pollution, which can affect marine fauna.

As the first project year is already behind us, it is time to recollect the main steps and advancements.

We started with the definition of realistic floating offshore wind farms scenarios, running coupled simulations that provide a solid basis for both anchors and mooring lines testing. Relevant testing scenarios have then been outlined, ensuring they are compatible with time and material availability, as fibre ropes testing will roll out in 2025. Sustainable-by-design concepts have been articulated proposing a methodology to evaluate the industrial feasibility of different anchors. The first selection of sustainability indicators and the technology qualification plan will shortly be delivered.

Stay tuned to get all the latest news.

Thank you for supporting the TAILWIND project!

The TAILWIND team

🤝 We are happy to announce the start of the collaboration between #TailwindEU and its sister projects: FLOATFARM, MADE4WINDPROJECT, and INF4INITY!

Flagship projects offer vast opportunities for synergies and mutual enrichment: both in terms of research dedicated to #offshorewind farms and in terms of communication and dissemination of the four project results and achievements in enhancing offshore #windenergy.

Stay tuned for our next joint activities!

TAILWIND at the Future of Energy conference

Aligi Foglia, project coordinator at NGI, was among the speakers at the Future of Energy conference, hosted by the University of Oslo and Oslo Science City on the 9th January 2025. Aligi introduced the TAILWIND project, digging into its main objectives, challenges and expected outcomes: "TAILWIND is committed to optimizing floating offshore wind farms. By reducing raw material use and minimizing the environmental impact, TAILWIND improves installation efficiency and significantly reduces costs. These advancements directly contribute to a lower levelized cost, making renewable energy more economically competitive and sustainable."

You can check his presentation at this link.