Dynamic analysis of a floating wind turbine platform with on-board CO2 direct air capture

Development of negative emission technologies is key in meeting climate change targets. Offshore wind-powered CO2 direct air capture (DAC) coupled with deep-water, submarine basalt reservoirs has the potential to offer a reliable way to permanently store CO2 while avoiding grid-energy and land-use competition. This paper analyzes the incorporation of a DAC system into a reference floating wind turbine (FWT) concept, the IEA 15 MW RWT atop the UMaine VolturnUS-S semi-submersible. The resulting FWT-DAC platform's total mass and its distribution is adapted as needed to preserve floating stability, prevent any wave splashing on the DAC system, and ensure minimum power production disturbances. The system's fully coupled motion responses are analyzed for relevant design load conditions and compared to those from the reference design demonstrating good agreement with the benchmark. The research findings suggest that the hybrid FWT-DAC platform behaves in a similar way to the reference one and can serve as a viable modular deployment approach.