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Arup appointed to progress innovative multi-rotor floating offshore wind concept

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Olivia Rhodes-Webb Olivia Rhodes-Webb UKIMEA Press Office,London
22 March 2024

Global engineering and sustainable development consultancy Arup has been appointed to support Wind Catching Systems (WCS) with the research and engineering advancement of the Windcatcher, a new multi-rotor floating offshore wind concept.

The Windcatcher challenges convention in offshore wind and seeks to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCoE) of floating wind. It focuses on standardisation, scalability, and improvements in operations and acreage efficiency.

Arup will develop an advanced simulation model which integrates the relevant load effects and responses of the multi-rotor system. The simulation model will be used in subsequent engineering studies to evaluate and verify loads and performance of the Windcatcher for a range of operational conditions.

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The team at Arup is excited to be collaborating with WCS on this innovative concept. It is particularly interesting because it considers important factors of standardisation and supply-chain scalability. With a long history of challenging design conventions and finding innovative solutions to the most complex engineering problems, we share WCS’s passion for thinking differently to advance offshore wind technology. ” David Witcher Associate Director, Arup

Image of the Windcatcher Image of the Windcatcher
Challenging convention in offshore wind, the Windcatcher seeks to reduce the levelized cost of energy of floating wind. ©WCS
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The team at WCS is very happy to be joining forces with Arup, leveraging their impressive track record and competence within offshore wind to further advance the unique Windcatching technology development. Arup will develop an important building block for further engineering works. ” Ørjan Fredriksen Vice President, Wind Catching Systems

The latest United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) confirmed the need for massive expansion of renewable energy in order to keep the global temperature rise of 1.5°C limit within reach. Realising the potential of offshore wind, including floating, is central to the goal to achieve net zero by 2050.

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