Daewoo E&C has obtained preliminary design approval from international classification societies for a 22MW-class mega-sized floating offshore wind substructure, strengthening its technological competitiveness in offshore wind energy.
Daewoo E&C announced on September 21, 2026 that its 22MW-class floating offshore wind substructure model, jointly developed with a floating offshore wind research group, has simultaneously obtained preliminary design approval (AiP) from Norwegian classification society DNV and French classification society BV.
AiP is a procedure in which a classification society reviews whether the concepts and preliminary designs applied to new designs or technologies comply with relevant technical standards. With this approval, Daewoo E&C has been recognized for the technical feasibility and structural stability of its mega-sized floating offshore wind substructure design.
Floating offshore wind differs from the method of directly fixing structures to the seabed. Instead, floating bodies are deployed and moored at sea to install power generation equipment. Because it can be installed in deep-water areas, its potential use is drawing attention, particularly in deep-sea regions such as the East Sea.
Daewoo E&C and the research group began technology development after the project "Development of Design Technology for Innovative LCOE-Reducing 20MW-Plus-Class Mega-Sized Floating Offshore Wind Substructures" was selected as a national strategic project in April 2023.
The team subsequently obtained relevant patents in February 2025 and conducted tank testing in September of the same year using a scale model one-forty-ninth the size of the actual model, manufactured by the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO).
The research involved participation from industry, academia and research institutions including Daewoo E&C, Bandy Consultant, POSCO, Marine Tech In, Inha University, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Korean Register, Golyeo Steel, POSCO E&C and EWP (Korea East-West Power), with support from the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning Institute.
The 22MW-class model that obtained AiP was designed considering water depths of 150 meters in the East Sea. According to Daewoo E&C, the company aimed to lower the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by approximately 20 percent compared to existing models by improving the floating body structure and design.
International Certification and Market Competitiveness
Green Economy News inquired with Daewoo E&C about the significance of obtaining DNV and BV AiP approval and the competitive advantage of international certification in the process of entering domestic and overseas offshore wind markets.
A Daewoo E&C official stated: "The significance lies in having verified the technical objectivity for entering domestic and overseas offshore wind markets by receiving approval from two of the world's most authoritative foreign classification societies." The official added: "Rather than focusing on differences with domestic certification, we place significance on having secured technical stability that meets international standards necessary for future entry into the global wind power market."
Expanding Competitive Advantage
Daewoo E&C is currently also pursuing the Gulup-do fixed-bottom offshore wind project. The company plans to expand its competitiveness in domestic and overseas offshore wind projects by securing mega-sized floating substructure technology alongside its fixed-bottom business.
A Daewoo E&C official stated: "Following the pursuit of the Gulup-do fixed-bottom offshore wind 250MW project, the 22MW-class floating offshore wind model has had its technological capabilities recognized by DNV and BV. Going forward, we will strengthen our core technological competitiveness in the renewable energy sector and pursue entry into the global offshore wind market and secure future growth drivers."
Original Korean article: Green Economy News
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
