FOOS

Offshore wind turbines are equipped with an active tower dampening system (ATD) to withstand vibrations due to wind and wave loads. However, this system leads to forced active power oscillations in the latest generation of offshore wind turbines. 

These active power oscillations are a cause of concern as they can threaten the stability of the power grid and the general reliability of the system.

Although the current amplitude is limited, companies in the sector have expressed concerns about their increase given the planned growth of offshore wind capacity. This led to the launch of the FOOS project, which stands for FORced OScillations. 

The partners in the project will on the one hand develop data-driven and physical models that should provide more insight into the phenomenon and the impact on grid stability, and on the other hand propose new regulations and mitigating measures. 

The ultimate goal is to ensure the safe integration of future (Belgian) offshore wind energy into the European electricity grid.