RENEWABLE ENERGY STRUCTURES – TIDAL & WIND

Supporting the future of renewable energy – Renewable Energy Structures: Tidal & Wind

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.

How we can support your design project

  • Improve rotor blade performance including section profile
  • 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

1 – 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.

2 – 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.

3 – 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.

READ MORE

Simulations

Offshore Wind Platform CFD for Repsol

CFD analysis of two Repsol offshore wind platforms—a semi‑submersible floating FFP with spread catenary moorings and a Tension Leg Platform (TLP)—to assess hydrodynamic behavior under operational loads.

Coupled WRF–CFD Study of San Francisco Bay

Integration of WRF mesoscale weather data with RANS/LES/DES CFD simulations to evaluate turbulence models, mesh resolution, and interpolation methods for Bay Area wind conditions.

Aero‑Optimization of Wind Turbine Blades

Leveraging America’s Cup wing‑technology, we automate CFD workflows for blade design, hub–blade flow interaction, appendage optimization, and flutter instability analysis.