A marine platform (and method of installation) provides a plurality of buoys of special configuration, a platform having a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of attachment positions, one attachment position for each buoy, and an articulating connection that connects each buoy to the platform at a respective attachment position, the connection allowing for sea state induced buoy motions while minimizing effect on the platform. A method of installation places the platform (including oil and gas drilling and/or production facility) next to the buoys. Ballasting moves the platform and buoys relative to one another until connections are perfected between each buoy and the platform.

A floating foundation for an offshore wind turbine has a center pipe, a buoyancy section, a weight section, and a plurality of wire ropes, The buoyancy section is connected to the center pipe to keep the foundation floating. The weight section is connected to the center pipe to provide stability to the foundation. The wire ropes are connected to the buoyancy section and the weight section and are arranged for being tensioned so as to add bending strength to the foundation The floating foundation has hoisting means for lowering or raising the center pipe. The hoisting means includes winches for increasing or decreasing a length of each of wire ropes connecting the buoyancy section and the weight section, for lowering or raising the center pipe of the floating foundation. A system is disclosed for extracting energy from wind. A method is disclosed for installing a wind turbine.

A method of assembling a floating wind turbine platform includes forming a base assembly of the floating wind turbine platform in either a cofferdam or a graving dock built in water having a first depth. The base assembly includes a keystone and a plurality of buoyant bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone, wherein longitudinal axes of each of the plurality of bottom beams are coplanar. The cofferdam or the graving dock is flooded and the assembled base assembly is floated to an assembly area in water having a second depth. A center column and a plurality of outer columns are assembled or formed on the base assembly, a tower is assembled or formed on the center column, and a wind turbine is assembled on the tower, thereby defining the floating wind turbine platform.

A method of assembling a floating wind turbine platform includes forming a base assembly of the floating wind turbine platform in either a cofferdam or a graving dock built in water having a first depth. The base assembly includes a keystone and a plurality of buoyant bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone, wherein longitudinal axes of each of the plurality of bottom beams are coplanar. The cofferdam or the graving dock is flooded and the assembled base assembly is floated to an assembly area in water having a second depth. A center column and a plurality of outer columns are assembled or formed on the base assembly, a tower is assembled or formed on the center column, and a wind turbine is assembled on the tower, thereby defining the floating wind turbine platform.

A sea water intake riser system for a floating production unit, including a caisson having a through-opening in a bottom side and being connectable to an upper end of a riser pipe; a lift pump inside the caisson and having an inlet at a vertical distance with a predetermined minimum submergence for pumping cold water from the caisson up to the floating production unit for use as cooling medium, wherein the sea water intake riser system includes at least two caissons, having a height substantially equal to a vertical height of a hull of the floating production unit and including an open top side; each caisson extending from a predetermined minimum distance from the bottom side of the hull up to at least the water-line during use and wherein a sump tank is located between the bottom side of the hull and the at least two caissons.

A sea water intake riser system for a floating production unit, including a caisson having a through-opening in a bottom side and being connectable to an upper end of a riser pipe; a lift pump inside the caisson and having an inlet at a vertical distance with a predetermined minimum submergence for pumping cold water from the caisson up to the floating production unit for use as cooling medium, wherein the sea water intake riser system includes at least two caissons, having a height substantially equal to a vertical height of a hull of the floating production unit and including an open top side; each caisson extending from a predetermined minimum distance from the bottom side of the hull up to at least the water-line during use and wherein a sump tank is located between the bottom side of the hull and the at least two caissons.

A floating solar plant supporting photovoltaic panels, resulting from the assembly of structural modules and floating modules on a body of water, forming a network of floating support devices supporting photovoltaic panels. The network including at least: a first row of floating support devices supporting a first row of photovoltaic panels, a second row of floating support devices supporting a second row of photovoltaic panels, and wherein the first row of photovoltaic panels and the second row of photovoltaic panels are spaced apart according to the transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by structural modules, and wherein at least the structural modules ensuring the spacing between the first row of photovoltaic panels and the second row of photovoltaic panels are configured so as to be immersed, at least during the passage of a servicing unit.

A floating solar plant supporting photovoltaic panels, resulting from the assembly of structural modules and floating modules on a body of water, forming a network of floating support devices supporting photovoltaic panels. The network including at least: a first row of floating support devices supporting a first row of photovoltaic panels, a second row of floating support devices supporting a second row of photovoltaic panels, and wherein the first row of photovoltaic panels and the second row of photovoltaic panels are spaced apart according to the transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by structural modules, and wherein at least the structural modules ensuring the spacing between the first row of photovoltaic panels and the second row of photovoltaic panels are configured so as to be immersed, at least during the passage of a servicing unit.

An offshore structure (1) with tubular braces (110) that are joined by joints (125) at nodes (120). The tubular braces (110) may be made of steel. The joint (125) is formed by means of casted concrete or grout in a receiving joint volume (150) in one or both of the braces (110). Also disclosed is a a keel structure formed by braces (110) and joints (125) as outlined and a combination of a wind turbine and such offshore structure (1).

An offshore structure (1) with tubular braces (110) that are joined by joints (125) at nodes (120). The tubular braces (110) may be made of steel. The joint (125) is formed by means of casted concrete or grout in a receiving joint volume (150) in one or both of the braces (110). Also disclosed is a a keel structure formed by braces (110) and joints (125) as outlined and a combination of a wind turbine and such offshore structure (1).