Development of an Innovative Tilted Counter-Rotating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (TCR-VAWT) Optimized to Operate Tilted on Spar-Buoy Floating Platforms

ongoing

Offshore wind power is set to be a key driver in the global shift towards renewable energy. The EU Green Deal aims to boost offshore wind capacity by 300 GW by 2050. However, 80% of the world's offshore wind potential is located in deep waters where traditional fixed-bottom turbines are impractical. This underscores the urgent need for innovative and cost-effective floating wind turbine technologies. This MSCA PF addresses this need by developing a novel Tilted Counter-Rotating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (TCR-VAWT) specifically optimized for spar-buoy floating platforms in deep-water environments, leading to an estimated 40% increase in turbine's performance. Tilting the TCR-VAWT will enhance power output by capturing wind from both upwind and downwind regions, while the counter-rotation will enable the use of direct-drive generators. This technology has a huge potential to significantly reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), by approximately 30% due to the elimination of complex gearbox systems and improved aerodynamic performance. The research methodology will combine high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for detailed aerodynamic analysis with the Finite Element Method (FEM) for structural feasibility. Prototyping and wind tunnel experiments will be conducted to validate the numerical simulations. Finally, the validated data collected will support developing and refining a Machine Learning algorithm, the Tilted VAWT Design and Optimization Code (TVDAOC), aimed to reduce the time needed for design optimization by 30-40%. The project includes two secondments: a three-month stint at World Wide Wind, the sole company specializing in TCR-VAWT technology for structural studies, and five months at the University of Bergamo to conduct experiments.