Image: Akselos

Akselos and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the US to drive innovation in floating offshore wind projects.

Under the MoU, ABS and Akselos say they will collaborate to deliver best-in-class solutions for the floating wind sector, both in the US and globally.

This collaboration combines ABS's expertise in floating wind certification and classification with Akselos' advanced structural risk mitigation and optimisation technology.

The partnership specifically targets the crucial design phase of floating offshore wind projects, aligning efforts to optimise costs and enhance efficiency, while simultaneously ensuring structural integrity.

The alliance will support the overarching goal set by the Floating Offshore Wind Energy Shot, which aims to reduce the cost of floating offshore wind energy by over 70%, reaching $45 per megawatt-hour by 2035 for deep-water sites far from shore.

Wind and new energies director at Akselos Guillaume Lechaton (pictured) said: “Our floating wind alliance with ABS, a leader in offshore certification and classification, is a strategic step to add value to this very promising yet challenging industry.

“By combining ABS’s expertise with Akselos’ advanced simulation tools, we aim to create a framework for more reliable, robust, and cost-efficient solutions for designers and operators.”

ABS global offshore wind vice president Rob Langford said: “The partnership between ABS and Akselos will support the ever-growing need for renewable offshore energy, cementing our position in the offshore wind market and continue to support the design, construction and installation of floating wind.”