Solution

Offshore Windfarm Design

Offshore Windfarm Design

Optimising Layouts for Cost, Power, and Confidence
Optimising Layouts for Cost, Power, and Confidence
Offshore wind farm with multiple wind turbines standing in the sea under a clear blue sky.
Offshore wind farm with multiple wind turbines standing in the sea under a clear blue sky.

From thousands of possible layouts to the few that matter - optimising offshore windfarm design for cost, power, and confidence.

Client(s)

Equinor

Sector

Renewables

Challenge

Energy Transition

Decision lens

Frontend Project Design

Product

-

Geography

Europe

The challenge

The challenge

Designing offshore windfarms is a high-stakes puzzle. Every choice - from turbine placement and foundation type to string configuration and substation location - impacts cost, energy production, and long-term value.


Traditionally, only a handful of layouts can be studied in detail. This limits visibility into the trade-offs between foundation cost, wake effects, and cable routing, leaving uncertainty over whether the selected design is truly optimal.


For 2 new seabed-fixed windfarm projects in Northern Europe, the challenge was to evaluate dozens of constraints and thousands of design combinations early in the process - when the biggest decisions are made.

Designing offshore windfarms is a high-stakes puzzle. Every choice - from turbine placement and foundation type to string configuration and substation location - impacts cost, energy production, and long-term value.


Traditionally, only a handful of layouts can be studied in detail. This limits visibility into the trade-offs between foundation cost, wake effects, and cable routing, leaving uncertainty over whether the selected design is truly optimal.


For 2 new seabed-fixed windfarm projects in Northern Europe, the challenge was to evaluate dozens of constraints and thousands of design combinations early in the process - when the biggest decisions are made.

Solution

Diagram with interconnected nodes linked by colored paths (red, blue, pink, and white) radiating from a central red square, representing a network or flow map.
Network diagram with hexagonal grids connected by nodes, overlaid on a teal background with scattered circular dots, representing a spatial or flow-based mapping system.
Diagram with interconnected nodes linked by colored paths (red, blue, pink, and white) radiating from a central red square, representing a network or flow map.
Network diagram with hexagonal grids connected by nodes, overlaid on a teal background with scattered circular dots, representing a spatial or flow-based mapping system.
Diagram with interconnected nodes linked by colored paths (red, blue, pink, and white) radiating from a central red square, representing a network or flow map.
Network diagram with hexagonal grids connected by nodes, overlaid on a teal background with scattered circular dots, representing a spatial or flow-based mapping system.

We developed an AI-assisted optimisation tool to systematically explore the full design space for the project.


The tool evaluated hundreds of thousands of layout options, factoring in:


  • Turbine placement and wake effects on production.

  • Foundation type and seabed conditions.

  • Cable routing rules and substation connections.

  • Cost and generation trade-offs across scenarios.


By combining engineering rules with economic and production models, the tool revealed the most promising layouts - balancing cost efficiency with maximum power generation.

Results

Broader exploration

hundreds of thousands of layouts tested instead of a few manual designs.

Clear trade-offs

transparent comparison of cost, production, and cost-per-MWh.

Early-phase confidence

enabling project teams to progress with stronger alignment and insight.

Results

Broader exploration

hundreds of thousands of layouts tested instead of a few manual designs.

Clear trade-offs

transparent comparison of cost, production, and cost-per-MWh.

Early-phase confidence

enabling project teams to progress with stronger alignment and insight.

Results

Broader exploration

hundreds of thousands of layouts tested instead of a few manual designs.

Clear trade-offs

transparent comparison of cost, production, and cost-per-MWh.

Early-phase confidence

enabling project teams to progress with stronger alignment and insight.

Related solutions

    Green Project Screening

    From months of manual studies to days of AI-assisted screening - helping teams explore all renewable options and focus on the best concepts with confidence.

    See solution

    Green Project Screening

    From months of manual studies to days of AI-assisted screening - helping teams explore all renewable options and focus on the best concepts with confidence.

    See solution

    Green Project Screening

    From months of manual studies to days of AI-assisted screening - helping teams explore all renewable options and focus on the best concepts with confidence.

    See solution

Want to learn more about this solution? Get in touch and ask for a demo.

Contact us

Want to learn more about this solution? Get in touch and ask for a demo.

Contact us

Want to learn more about this solution? Get in touch and ask for a demo.

Contact us

Want to learn more about this solution? Get in touch and ask for a demo.

Contact us