Japanese utility Electric Power Development Co Ltd (J-Power) and the University of Tokyo have developed and patented a new foundation design for bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines, tailored to Japan's unique topography.
The innovation, named Flexible Tripile, incorporates square steel pipes and plates in the foundation's base plate, allowing the structure to deform more easily.
This flexibility provides seismic isolation, making it more suitable for areas with shallow bedrock and improving resilience to earthquake vibrations.
The Flexible Tripile design is also expected to accommodate larger wind turbines in the future and offers lower construction costs compared to conventional monopile foundations, due to its simplified components.
