Quick Connections - Making Waves in Wind

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This work is focused on the adaptation of Quoceant's modular Quick Connection System (QCS), theQ-Connect, already developed and tested for use in the wave and tidal energy sectors, to meet thehigher loading requirements of the floating offshore wind (FOW) industry. A QCS in this context isa device that mechanically secures an offshore floating structure to the pre-installed mooring and/orelectrical systems on the seabed. The key aims of a QCS are to "reduce the duration, cost and risk ofoffshore operations" (Wave Energy Scotland n.d.b).A key offshore operation where a QCS can reduce operational costs and duration is known asthe platform "hook-up" and is required for each floating energy device installed offshore to connectthe device to the pre-installed mooring and electrical systems. By reducing the duration of thehook-up operation and expanding the safe operational weather limits could significantly reduce thedelays incurred from waiting for suitable weather windows to become available. The research anddevelopment of the QCS will be focused on FOW but may include some design adaptions for smallerscale projects in relevant areas that will feed into the FOW designs.This report comprises a short state of the art review to highlight the need for QCSs in FOWfollowed by a Project Plan detailing the anticipated steps the project will take to meet it's goals. Alsoincluded is an assessment of risks to project completion, a health and safety risk assessment and aResponsible Research and Innovation (RRI) assessment.