Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Steel are embarking on the development of a proprietary floating offshore wind model.
The two companies announced on the 15th that they signed a business agreement for joint development of a proprietary floating offshore wind model at Hyundai Steel's Dangjin steelworks in South Chungcheong Province on the 13th.
The core of this research is developing a hybrid floater that combines specialized steel and concrete. Hyundai E&C will develop hybrid floater design and modular fabrication with rapid construction technology, while Hyundai Steel will develop and verify specialized steel for offshore wind applications.
The development of a modular hybrid floater is a first in South Korea, and will incorporate patented technology jointly filed by Hyundai E&C and Hyundai Steel. Through this collaboration, Hyundai E&C aims to secure floater design capabilities—a core technology for floating offshore wind—and strengthen its foundation for winning global offshore wind projects. Specifically, the company plans to derive an optimal basic floater design through this research and then pursue Approval in Principle certification from international classification societies.
Floating offshore wind technology involves installing power generation equipment on floaters at sea. It can be deployed in deep waters exceeding 50 meters, significantly reducing site constraints for offshore wind. The technology is attracting attention as next-generation energy infrastructure with high power generation potential, as it can utilize sea areas with superior wind speed, volume, and direction compared to fixed-bottom installations.
