Design considerations for tension leg platform wind turbines

► Nonlinear coupled analysis of tension leg platform wind turbines (TLPWTs). ► 5 baseline single column designs and 40 variations were analyzed and compared. ► Changes in dimensions, ballast, and water depth affected structural loads. ► Out-of-plane motions were critical for TLPWT designs with small displacement. ► Tower and tendon loads were more design-dependent than blade loads.