Design of support structures for offshore wind turbines

Offshore wind is the logical next step in the development of wind energy. With higher wind speeds offshore and the fact that turbines can be placed out of sight, offshore wind helps increase the amount of renewable energy signifi cantly. Offshore wind has been developed through pilot projects in the 1990s and has seen commercial development over the last decade. This chapter shows the development of offshore wind and then focuses on the design of support structures. It briefl y describes all fundamental steps that need to be taken to come to a proper support structure design, incorporating all turbine loads and the impact of waves and soil. Furthermore, the chapter gives an overview of the different types of structures and how they are fabricated and installed.