GALLEGGIANTE PER IL SUPPORTO DI UN GENERATORE EOLICO OFFSHORE

The invention relates to a floater 1 for the support of a horizontal -axis offshore wind power generator (100). The floater comprises a hull (10) which has a closed annular shape in plan and is defined by : a double watertight bottom (20) which follows the closed annular shape of said hull (10) and in use is completely immersed; and a plurality of columnar watertight compartments 31, 32, 33 extending vertically from said double watertight bottom (20) at predefined distances from each other along the annular extension of said hull and which are partially immersed in use. The floater comprises a covered main deck (40) which has a closed annular shape in plan, structurally connects one to another the vertical columnar watertight compartments 31, 32, 33 above, and is completely emerged in use. The hull has on the sides thereof a plurality of through openings 51, 52, 53, each of which is delimited below by a portion of said double watertight bottom, above by a portion of said covered upper deck and laterally by two contiguous columnar watertight compartments. The horizontal -axis offshore wind power generator is supported by a tower (101) which rises from said floater at a main columnar watertight compartment. The displacement volume of the main columnar watertight compartment is greater than the displacement volume of each of the remaining columnar watertight compartments. The ratio between the displacement volume of the main columnar watertight compartment and the displacement volume of each of the remaining columnar watertight compartments is chosen so that the centre of the hydrostatic vertical thrusts generated by the floater is positioned as close as possible to the main columnar watertight compartment.