Life-time engineering assessment framework for floating offshore wind farms

Paper in proceeding, 2026

Floating offshore wind farms (FOWFs) offer access to high-quality wind resources in deep-water regions, but their large-scale deployment is constrained by high costs and uncertainties in long-term performance and environmental impact. To support early-stage design decisions, this study aims to develop an integrated life-time engineering (LTE) framework that combines life-cycle cost (LCC), life-cycle assessment (LCA), andlife-cycle performance (LCP) considerations within a numerical platform. The modular framework is implemented in MATLAB Simulink and OpenLCA, allowing targeted analysis of critical system components. In this paper, particular emphasis is placed on the mooring system, which represents a major contributor to capital expenditure. The LCC and LCA models are formulated with consistent system boundaries and inventories, allowing material- and configuration-driven trade-offs to be evaluated in a coherent manner. Case studies are conducted for spar and semi-submersible floating platforms equipped with alternative mooring line configurations, including all-chain and chain-polyester-chain configurations, focusing on manufacturing-stage costs and environmental impacts. The results suggest that the integrated LTE framework can support identifying coupled cost-environmental trade-offs that are not accessible through isolated assessments. By providing a flexible and extensible tool for comparative analysis, the proposed methodology supports decision-making for the design and optimisation of mooring systems in FOWFs.