Advances in Plate Anchors for Floating Wind: Geotechnical Efficiency and Installation Methods

Floating offshore wind is driving demand for anchoring systems that are both highly efficient and readily installable. Plate anchors, including Suction Embedded Plate Anchors (SEPLAs), offer the highest capacity-to-weight ratios available and have a proven track record in deepwater mooring applications in soft soils. Recent research is focused on extending their use to floating wind across a wider range of seabed conditions, particularly sands, while improving installation efficiency and reducing uncertainty in anchor performance. In this presentation, I will share findings from two recent research programmes investigating plate anchor behaviour, installation mechanisms, and alternative deployment methods. Emerging evidence suggests that the installation method may play a key role in controlling ultimate holding capacity through changes to the soil state during installation. I will also discuss recent work indicating that anchor keying may have less influence on ultimate capacity than is commonly assumed. Together, these advances highlight how innovative installation methods and improved understanding of soil–anchor interaction can unlock more efficient and cost-effective anchoring solutions for the next generation of floating offshore wind projects.

Presenter: John Morton, PhD CEng