Chapter 13: Dynamics of offshore wind turbines supported on two foundations

With the current demand for clean ‘green energy’ there are very strong economic incentives to construct offshore wind farms. The rate of expansion of offshore wind energy is soon predicted to outstrip even levels seen during the heyday of the offshore oil and gas industry, and as a result substantial effort has been put into research and development. The UK offshore wind sector has been steadily expanding under the direction of the government. So far, planning has been conducted in so-called ‘rounds’. Each of these rounds has allowed applications to be submitted for a number of wind farms in the coastal waters surrounding the UK; applications for the third round have been completed.