HyFloat1 Overview

HyFloat1: Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Platform with Integrated Hydrogen Production and Storage 

Hyfloat1 is pioneering floating offshore wind (FOW) foundation systems that incorporate integrated hydrogen storage. The HyFloat1 concept is scalar and modular, helping exploit the vast renewable energy potential in deep‑water offshore environments—energy that cannot be fully absorbed by electricity markets alone.

The project is numerically simulating, and optimising floating offshore wind foundation designs so they can safely and efficiently store hydrogen produced directly at sea. This includes analysing  hydrodynamic forces and structural c performance under wind turbine loads using the OpenFAST suite of tools and the operational demands of electrolysers and auxiliary hydrogen systems and onboard storage tanks.

Funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the Research, Development & Demonstration Programme

Investigators

• Dr. Paul Leahy (School of Engineering & Architecture & Sustainability Institute, UCC)
• Dr. Dam Pham (School of Engineering & Architecture & Sustainability Institute, UCC)
• Dr. Quang Vu Dinh (School of Engineering & Architecture & Sustainability Institute, UCC)

Solutions

HyFloat1 is based on the NREL 15 MW reference wind turbine and the VolturnUS semisubmersible floating wind platform developed by the University of Maine.

A deck has been added to support electrolysers and ancillary systems.

Hydrogen storage tanks are embedded in the VolturnUS' three columns. The detailed design of the tanks is being carried out in the sister project HyFloatComp. 

For further details see: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319925038327