GICON and Glosten are joining forces for TLP Offering

The two engineering companies, German-based GICON^® – Grossmann Ingenieur Consult GmbHand US-based Glosten, are forming a strategic business relationship. The objective is to concentrate resources to develop an optimum Tension Leg Platform (TLP) offshore wind foundation designed for the full range of water depths (20 to 350m), for all metocean conditions, seabed types and turbine sizes. Both companies provide engineering as their core business. The companies point out the advantages of their newly established co-operation such as using their strengths and geographic presence to optimize efforts in demonstrating the benefits of TLP technologies for the offshore industry.

Over the past years, both companies have developed their own respective substructure technologies. And yet, the GICON^® SOF and the Glosten PelaStar TLP designs have complementary advantages. GICON^® and Glosten’s collaboration will advance each design type and open the door to the potential evolution of hybrid solutions.

The result of the new partnership offers developers, utilities and independent power producers a single source TLP solution with a LCOE of less than 70€/MWh. Our medium-term goal is to reach $54/MWh for a windfarm consisting of 10MW wind turbines” says GICON^® founder Prof. Jochen Grossmann. GICON^® and Glosten provide fully-integrated, engineered, certified, detailed design packages and technology assurances as part of their technology solutions.

TLP Technologies lowering demands on wind turbines

The advantage of the Tension Leg Platform offshore wind substructure lies in its stability. Therefore, the demands on wind turbines from platform motion are much lower compared to other floating technologies. The stability of a TLP system is achieved by the combination of forces from tendons and buoyancy. No separate systems for stabilization, such as active ballast systems are needed. Furthermore, the TLP has a significantly lower mass compared to other offshore foundation solutions, such as semisubmersible floaters.

About the Partners

GICON^® and Glosten have been promoting floating technology for offshore wind for several years. Together with eight other companies, they founded the “Friends of Floating Offshore Wind” in 2016. The group aims to define the support needed to help developers overcome challenges on the road to commercialization and to communicate those requirements to the general public and relevant stakeholders.

GICON^® is an incorporated group of independent engineering and consulting companies, founded in 1994.  The group operates under the registered trademark GICON^®. GICON’s headquarters are in Dresden, Germany. Office locations throughout Germany and in various European and Asian locations as well as in the Americas enable provision of services in proximity to the client. GICON^® has been heavily involved in the process of preparing the market for floating foundations for many years. IRENA acknowledged GICON as “First mover” for its innovative research and development of the GICON^® - SOF, the first German floating TLP foundation. (www.gicon.de)

Glosten, a Seattle-based engineering consultancy founded in 1958, is recognized throughout the marine industry for innovative solutions, integrating advanced analysis with practical, experience-based design.  With expertise in Naval Architecture, Ocean Engineering & Analysis, Marine Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Detail/Production Design, Glosten initially conceived of the PelaStar Tension Leg Platform in 2006, and completed a FEED Study for a full-scale 6MW platform demonstration in 2014.  In 2015, Glosten acquired Noise Control Engineering, LLC, a premier acoustical and structural engineering consultancy specializing in noise and vibration measurement and control for marine, industrial, commercial, and military applications. (www.glosten.com)