A self-installing offshore column stabilized semi-submersible platform has at least one vertical buoyant ballastable column, a telescoping keel tank or stiffened damper plate movably connected with the vertical column that extends and retracts relative to a lower end thereof, and a tilt and telescoping wind turbine tower assembly pivotally coupled to an upper end of the vertical column telescopes and reciprocates relative thereto between a horizontal retracted position and an axially extended vertical position. A wind turbine with blades is coupled to a top portion of the upper section of the tower assembly. The relative position and weight of the keel tank or damper plate is selectively adjustable to raise or lower the center of gravity of the entire mass of the semi-submersible platform including the wind turbine and tower assembly with respect to the center of buoyancy of the platform.

A method of building an offshore windmill includes, using a 3D-heave-compensated crane, placing on a windmill pedestal a lifting jack having a receiving region, and fixing the lifting jack to the windmill pedestal such that the lifting jack can be later removed, and such that a windmill column can be placed within the receiving region directly on the windmill pedestal. The windmill generator is installed using the 3D-heave-compensated crane. The windmill column is partially erected on the windmill pedestal using the 3D-heave-compensated crane and the lifting jack. Before the windmill is fully erected, windmill blades are placed on the windmill generator using the 3D-heave-compensated crane, and the erection of the windmill column on the windmill pedestal is completed using at least the lifting jack. Using the 3D-heave-compensated crane, the lifting jack is removed from the windmill pedestal.

This disclosure is directed to hydrodynamic electric generators, including their structural design, methods of deployment, anchoring systems, drive systems and control systems. The system can be scaled from ones that can be hand carried to large, stationary devices that can generate up to and greater than 20 kw in a current of 3 knots. In a stationary system, the device can be anchored to an underwater floor by an anchoring device supported by four adjustable legs. These legs can eliminate the need for extensive mooring lines, providing the device with a small footprint that is non-hazardous to marine animals or vegetation. Individual components, such as rotors, generators and other mechanical components can be modularly installed for easy removal and servicing without having to disturb the entire system.

A concave hermetic air/brine encapsulating vessel, or cap 10, positioned in the sea at a chosen area according to tidal range. Wherein the open underside of the vessel allows brine/sea water to freely enter or exit the vessel and the tide rises and falls respectively. This rise and fall of the brine within the vessel will result in changes to the air pressure within the vessel, as the air because pressurised as the brine rises, and forms a vacuum with the vessel as the brine falls. These changes in pressure are used to operate a pneumatic actuator 60, via a suitable system of valves 50,52 coupled to the inlets and/or outlets of a pipe couple to a vent 30 on the upper portion of the vessel, or within a plurality of pipes couple to a manifold 40 coupled to the vent 30. Wherein the operation of the pneumatic actuator 60 powers a generator 62 for producing and storing power.

An apparatus that can optimize wind power without compromising solar photovoltaic power collection by doing so and yet provide self-cleaning of the solar photovoltaic panels of the collector. The panels rotate in unison with rotation of the wind turbine airfoils and arranged in a planar region that is substantially transverse to a circumferential region in which the airfoils rotate beneath the solar photovoltaic collector.

A self-installing offshore column stabilized semi-submersible platform has at least one vertical buoyant ballastable column, a telescoping keel tank or stiffened damper plate movably connected with the vertical column that extends and retracts relative to a lower end thereof, and a non-collapsible turbine tower or a tilt and telescoping tower coupled to an upper end of the vertical column that telescopes and reciprocates relative thereto between a horizontal retracted position and an axially extended vertical position. A wind turbine with blades is coupled to a top portion of the tower assembly. The relative position and weight of the keel tank or damper plate is selectively adjustable to raise or lower the center of gravity of the entire mass of the semi-submersible platform including the wind turbine and tower assembly with respect to the center of buoyancy of the platform.

An offshore wind turbine includes a ballast adjustable hull. In addition, the offshore wind turbine includes a telescopic tower movably coupled to the hull. The tower has a central axis and comprises a plurality of nested concentrically arranged elongate tubulars. Further, the offshore wind turbine includes a ballast adjustable elevator disposed about the telescopic tower and movably coupled to the hull. The elevator is configured to lift one or more of the plurality of tubulars of the tower axially upward relative to the hull. Still further, the offshore wind turbine includes a nacelle coupled to an upper end of one of the plurality of tubulars of the tower. Moreover, the offshore wind turbine includes a rotor assembly coupled to the nacelle.

This disclosure is directed to hydrodynamic electric generators, including their structural design, methods of deployment, anchoring systems, drive systems and control systems. The system can be scaled from ones that can be hand carried to large, stationary devices that can generate up to and greater than 20 kw in a current of 3 knots. In a stationary system, the device can be anchored to an underwater floor by an anchoring device supported by four adjustable legs. These legs can eliminate the need for extensive mooring lines, providing the device with a small footprint that is non-hazardous to marine animals or vegetation. Individual components, such as rotors, generators and other mechanical components can be modularly installed for easy removal and servicing without having to disturb the entire system.

Floating construction comprising: a flotation base including at least one essentially hollow body selectively fillable with ballast, where the maximum horizontal dimension of the flotation base is greater than the maximum vertical dimension of the flotation base; a building supported by said flotation base, comprising preferably a telescopic tower; downward impelling means; and at least three retaining cables, the corresponding upper ends thereof being attached to said flotation base, preferably at peripheral positions of the flotation base, and the corresponding lower ends thereof being attached to said downward impelling means, such that said retaining cables are tensioned and exert on said flotation base a downward force that increases the stability of the floating construction. And the installation method for this floating construction.

Floating construction comprising: a flotation base including at least one essentially hollow body selectively fillable with ballast, where the maximum horizontal dimension of the flotation base is greater than the maximum vertical dimension of the flotation base; a building supported by said flotation base, comprising preferably a telescopic tower; downward impelling means; and at least three retaining cables, the corresponding upper ends thereof being attached to said flotation base, preferably at peripheral positions of the flotation base, and the corresponding lower ends thereof being attached to said downward impelling means, such that said retaining cables are tensioned and exert on said flotation base a downward force that increases the stability of the floating construction. And the installation method for this floating construction.