A national deep water testing facility for floating offshore wind

HR Wallingford has received funding from The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator to help build the UK’s first national deepwater testing facility for floating offshore wind (FLOW) technology. 

Strategically located alongside our existing hydrodynamic research infrastructure at Howbery Park in Oxfordshire, UK, this new facility will play a pivotal role in supporting the design, certification, and deployment of next-generation floating wind platforms.

Despite the UK’s leadership in the global FLOW market - particularly in regions such as the Celtic Sea - there remains a significant infrastructure gap: the absence of a commercial-scale deepwater testing facility capable of supporting full-scale platform certification and warranty testing. As the sector scales rapidly, the need for robust, real-world validation of floating wind technologies becomes increasingly urgent.

Reliability is central to the long-term viability of floating wind. Enhancing the dependability of floating platforms reduces the need for costly offshore maintenance operations and vessel interventions. Our proposed facility will provide high-fidelity physical testing capabilities that surpass the limitations of computational models and existing tank facilities, enabling developers to de-risk designs before deployment.

The proposed facility will be the largest of its kind in the UK, featuring a 40m x 40m x 6m deep test tank equipped with multi-directional wave generation. This will allow for the testing of floating platforms with full catenary mooring spreads at scales of 1:40 and above - critical for replicating real-world ocean conditions and validating engineering performance.

• High-accuracy scale modelling of floating wind systems and mooring configurations
• Testing of advanced technologies such as dynamic connectors, cable protection systems, and scour protection solutions
• Support for certification and insurance processes, enabling commercial readiness of FLOW innovations
• Broader research and development, including smart asset management tools, subsea infrastructure defence systems, and academic-industry collaborations

This facility is designed to deliver on supply chain and infrastructure requirements identified in the Celtic Sea Blueprint - an independent study commissioned by The Crown Estate - and will serve as a cornerstone for FLOW development across the region and internationally. By enabling rigorous testing at commercially relevant scales, it will accelerate the transition of innovations from concept to deployment.

The project’s initial phase involves comprehensive industry consultation, detailed design development, cost estimation, and business case preparation. These steps will culminate in contractor engagement and a capital expenditure funding application in preparation for a final investment decision.

Beyond its technical capabilities, the deep water testing facility will act as a catalyst for the UK’s green industrial strategy. It will:

• Strengthen the FLOW supply chain through design verification and optimisation
• Stimulate UK-based research, innovation, and skills development
• Build investor confidence in floating wind technologies
• Foster industry clustering and knowledge sharing at Howbery Park

Our vision is to establish a globally recognised hub for floating offshore wind innovation - one that not only supports the UK’s net-zero ambitions but also addresses some of the world’s most complex water-related challenges through collaborative engineering excellence.