Floating offshore wind (FLOW) power platforms are a pivotal emerging technology that produces renewable electricity by taking advantage of the vast wind energy resources available on deeper waters. However, FLOW power plants face significant operation...
Floating offshore wind (FLOW) power platforms are a pivotal emerging technology that produces renewable electricity by taking advantage of the vast wind energy resources available on deeper waters. However, FLOW power plants face significant operational and maintenance (O&M) challenges because of their remote locations in harsh deep-sea conditions, which contribute substantially to the levelized cost of energy (LCoE). Prolonged downtime from major failures critically impacts efficiency and profitability. In this study, we comparatively analyze the operational efficiency of two primary strategies for performing major maintenance on FLOW farms, including towing the entire platform to port and replacing components onsite. We detail the procedures of each strategy along with the resources required and describe their respective advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. We also propose optimal strategies that consider different types of maintenance tasks (short vs. long durations) and marine conditions. Our findings indicate that onsite replacement reduces downtime for short-duration tasks such as blade and gearbox replacements. Conversely, towing or mixed strategies were more effective for longer tasks such as replacing generators or pitch and hydraulic systems, especially given the wave height limits that apply to O&M vessels. Notably, the mixed strategy minimized the reduction in average turbine availability associated with maintenance and exhibited the highest operational efficiency. Thus, this analysis provides valuable insights to optimize O&M planning and reduce LCoE in floating offshore wind development.