European Investment Bank
Date: 2020-05-13
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved an undisclosed sum to finance the development of the 30 MW Golfe du Lion offshore floating wind project, 16 km off the coast of the Leucate-Le Barcares area in the Mediterranean Sea. .

The demonstration project will incorporate three V164 MHI Vestas 10 MW wind turbines supported by Principle Power's WindFloat semi-submersible floating foundations. The project, which is being developed by Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL), a consortium comprising Engie, EDP Renewables, and Caisse des Depots, is expected to be commissioned in 2022. The commissioning of the wind farm is scheduled for 2022 (Source: EIB, offshore wind biz, 12 May, 2020) (Contact: Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion, www.info-efgl.fr; EIB, www.eib.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  European Investment Bank,  

MingYang Smart Energy
Date: 2020-04-15
Chinese wind turbine manufacturer MingYang Smart Energy Group reports plans to invest roughly CNY 725 million ($102.5 million) to develop a 10 MW typhoon-resistant floating wind turbine at the company's business site in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province.

The funding for the project will raised with a private placement of A shares. A portion of the share proceeds will be used to construct an offshore wind turbine manufacturing base in Shanwei city. (Source: Ming Yang, PR, April, 2020) Contact: MingYang Smart Energy Group, www.myse.com.cn/en/myzn/index.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ming Yang,  Floating Wind,  

Offshore Wind, Equinor
Date: 2020-04-10
Maritime Executive is reporting the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Industry has approved plans for development and operation of the to $488 million Hywind Tampen offshore floating wind farm which will supply power to the Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil platforms.

The 88 MW Hywind Tampen wind farm, which is being developed by Equinor, will incorporate 11 Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines mounted on floating concrete spar substructures with shared anchors supplied by Kvaerner. Hywind Tampen is slated for start-up at the end of 2022. (Source: Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Industry, Maritime Exec., 8 April, 2020) Contact: Equinor, Eldar Sætre, Pres., CEO, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Equinor,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  Wind,  

Iberdrola
Date: 2020-04-01
In Norway, Madrid-based wind energy major Iberdrola, in partnership with France's EDF and Germany's DNV-GL and others, is reporting plans to test two semi-submersible concrete floating wind power demonstration projects.

The project aims to help cut the levelized cost of floating wind energy to roughly €40-60 MWh by 2030. The development falls under the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme and could qualify for roughly €25 million in grant funding from the EC Innovation and Networks Executive Agency. Fabrication of the test platform could start in Q2, 2021 for installation in Q1, 2022. (Source: Iberdrola, PR, reve, 30 Mr.,2020)Contact: Iberdrola, Jonathan Cole, Global Managing Director Offshore Wind, www.iberdrolarenewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Iberdrola,  Wind,  Floating Wind,  

TOTAL,Blue Energy
Date: 2020-03-27
French oil and gas major Total is reporting acquisition of an 80 pct stake in Simply Blue Energy's planned 96MW Erebus floating offshore wind to be built off the coast of Wales in the Celtic Sea.

The Erebus project is intended as a demonstration project for a potential fleet of floating offshore wind farms in the area. Simply Blue Energy and Total's partnership is the new Joint Venture, Blue Gem Wind. (Source: Total, RenewEconomy, 24 Mar., 2020) Contact: Blue Gem Wind, wind@simplyblueenergy.com, simplyblueenergy.com/erebus

More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL,  Floating Wind,  Wind,  Blue Energy,  

FloatGen
Date: 2020-03-13
Following up on our October 18, 2017 coverage, Paris-headquartered offshore wind developer Ideol reports its FloatGen floating wind pilot in the French Atlantic Ocean has outreached production levels reaching more than 920MWh of output for the month of February.

The 2MW unit, based around a Vestas turbine and damping pool foundation also saw its highest-ever monthly capacity factor, 66.3 pct -- significantly better than the average bottom-fixed offshore machine, which averages around 50 pct, according to a company release. (Source: Ideol, Recharge, Mar., 2020)Contact: Ideol, +33 (0)4 86 20 80 50, www.ideol-offshore.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News FloatGen ,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Wind,  

SeaTwirl
Date: 2020-01-22
Following up on our Jan. 10, 2018 coverage, SeaTwirl AB, the Swedish developer of a floating vertical axis wind turbine with folding blades, is reporting receipt of a patent from the European Patent Office (EPO) for its divisible offshore wind turbine. The European patent is in addition to earlier patents issued in Sweden, the USA and China.

The turbine is mounted on a buoyant underwater structure anchored in deep water. The wind turbine, tower and underwater structure are permanently joined and rotate as a single unit with water carrying the full weight of the structure which, similar to a sailing boat, is stabilized by the keel. The unit does not require a yaw system for the turbine to face the wind nor a pitching mechanism to turn the rotor blades. Accordingly, fewer moving parts incur lower maintenance and operating costs. The SeaTwirl S2, 1MW turbine is expected to be available in 2020. (Source: SeaTwirl, Offshore Eng., 20 Jan., 2020) Contact: SeaTwirl AB, Gabriel Strangberg, CEO, Managing Director, +46 70-480 55 29, www.seatwirl.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  SeaTwirl,  Floating Wind,  Vertical Wind Turbine,  

Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo
Date: 2020-01-13
In Brazil, the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo (EPUSP) reports it is leading research seeking to reduce the structural weight in new designs of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs). The research is being funded by the US Office of Naval Research Global (ONR Global).

According to the EPUSP release, the design of FOWTs can be a complicated task as variables such as the responses to waves, current and wind loads, the static and dynamic stabilities, and the structural behaviour of the mooring lines should be considered. The researchers will use modeling to understand how to better design and manage complex structures in the dynamic ocean environment, according to the release. (Source: Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo, Energy Global, Jan., 2020) Contact: Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo, Professor Alexandre Simos, 11 2648-6094, www.tpn.usp.br

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

WindFloat Atlantic ,Windplus
Date: 2020-01-06
Following up on our November 6, 2019 coverage, Windplus, a consortium of utilities EDP Renewables, ENGIE and Spanish oil major Repsol is reporting the first of three 8.4-mw MHI Vestas turbines of the WindFloat Atlantic project, the world's largest floating wind turbine, is now generating power off the coast of Portugal.

The WindFloat Atlantic project was partially funded with a €60 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB.)(Source: Windplus, WindFloat Atlantic, gtm, 2 Jan., 2019) Contact: EDP Renewables, www.edpr.com, www.edp.com/en/windfloat; Repsol, www.repsol.com; Windplus, Dr. Carsten Meyer, 0421 897 660 0, c.meyer@windplus.de, www.windplus.de; EIB, www.eib.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News EDP Renewables,  Repsol,  EIB,  Windfloat Atlantic,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Maine Aqua Ventus.Central Maine Power Company
Date: 2020-01-03
Central Maine Power Company (CMP) reports the recent signing of a 20-year ppa with Maine Aqua Ventus which plans to construct two floating wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine using technology developed by the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. Subject to various regulatory and environmental approvals, the project could be completed in 2022.

Aqua Ventus is presently working on a pilot project miles off of Monhegan Island, the first pilot project of floating wind technology in the Americas. It is one-eighth the scale of a planned six-megawatt turbine. (Source: Maine Aqua Ventus.Beacon, Maine News Service, 2 Jan., 2019) Contact: Central Maine Power Company, www.cmpco.com; Maine Aqua Ventus, Meghan Collins, (207) 581-2117 www.maineaquaventus.com; University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, 207-581-2123, www.composites.umaine.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  

Ideol, Taisei Corp
Date: 2019-11-27
Paris-headquartered wind energy developer Ideol and Tokyo-based construction company Taisei Corp. are reporting a MoU for the joint development and promotion in Japan of concrete foundations for floating offshore wind using Ideol's patented Damping Pool technology.

Under the MoU, the companies will also work to contribute to the acceleration as well as the growth of the domestic floating offshore wind market. (Source: Ideol, Taisei Corp, PR, Offshore, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Ideol and Taisei Corp Contact: Ideol, +33 (0)4 86 20 80 50, www.ideol-offshore.com/en; Taisei Corp., www.taisei.co.jp

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ideol,  Taisei Corp,  Floating Wind,   Offshore WindOffshore Wind,  Wind,  

WindPower Korea, EDP Renewables, Aker Solutions
Date: 2019-11-27
Following up on our 21st October coverage, EDP Renewables, a consortium founded by EDP and Aker Solutions reports it has joined WindPower Korea with investments in the development company Korea Floating Wind Power (KFWind). Principle Power, which had a role in originating the KFWind project portfolio, will supply its WindFloat foundation technology for the 500-MW project.

As previously reported, KFWind inked a MoU with the City of Ulsan to cooperate on the development of floating wind projects and support the Ulsan region as a manufacturing hub for domestic and export offshore wind markets.

South Korea is targeting 13 GW of offshore wind installed by 2030, and 30 pct or more renewable energy by 2040. (Source: WindPower Korea, EDP Renewables, Aker Solutions 25 Nov., 2019)Contact: WindPower Korea, +82-2-584-5326, kwsuh@windpowerkorea.com, www.windpowerkorea.com; Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; EDP Renewables, +351 21 001 25 00, www.edpr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  WindPower Korea,  EDP Renewables,  Aker Solutions ,  

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind
Date: 2019-11-18
Following up on our 9 October coverage, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is reporting it has been selected as the preferred turbine supplier for the Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) pilot wind project off the south coast of France.

The project, a partnership between French utility Engie and EDP Renewables, will incorporate three V164-10.0 MW turbines mounted on WindFloat semi-submersible floating platforms from by Principle Power. (Source: MHI Vestas, Various Media, 18 Nov., 2019) Contact: MHI Vestas, Philippe Kavafyan, CEO, +45 97 30 00 00, vestas@vestas.com, www.vestas.com; EDP Renewables, +351 21 001 25 00, www.edpr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Engie,  MHI Vestas Offshore Wind,  Engie,  EDP Renewables,  

Windplus,ABS,Principle Power
Date: 2019-11-06
Windplus, a consortium of utilities EDP, ENGIE and Repsol along with clean energy firm Principle Power, is touting the development of an 8.4MW floating offshore wind turbine to be deployed in Viana do Castello, Portugal. The turbine is expected to come online before the year end.

The wind turbine has been developed by ABS Group and is the first of three ABS-classed, SEMI Submersible Type units that will make up for a total of 25 MWs of floating offshore wind power. (Source: Principle Power, Smart Energy, 5 Nov., 2019) Contact: EDP Renovaveis, www.edpr.com, www.edp.com/en/windfloat; Repsol, www.repsol.com; Windplus, Dr. Carsten Meyer, 0421 897 660 0, c.meyer@windplus.de, www.windplus.de; ABS, Christopher J. Wiernicki, CEO, www.abs-group.com; Principle Power, (510) 280- 5180, www.principlepowerinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Principle Power,  ABS Group,  Windplus,  Repsol,  Windfloat Atlantic,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Eolfi,Royal Dutch Shell
Date: 2019-11-06
Paris-headquartered French floating offshore wind and solar energy developer Eolfi reports it is being acquired by oil giant Royal Dutch Shell.

EOLFI has a global presence and covers all stages of the value chain including project development, financing, construction and operation, according to the company website. (Source: Eolfi Website, Nov., 2019) Contact: Eolfi, +33 1 40 07 95 00, www.eolfi.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Royal Dutch Shell,  Eolfi,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Kvaerner,Equinor
Date: 2019-11-01
Oslo, Norway-based offshore engineering and construct firm Kvaerner reports it has contracted with Equinor to deliver 11 floating concrete hulls for offshore wind power turbines for Equinor's Hywind Tampen project off the coast of Norway -- the world's largest floating offshore wind farm.

The NOK 1.5 billion ($164,964,000 - US) contract includes full project management, engineering, assembly site management, mooring system installation, units tow-to-field and installation of the floating wind turbine units. (Source: Kvaener, PR, 31 Oct., 2019) Contact: Kvaener, Karl-Petter Loken, Pres., Torbjørn Andersen, IR & Communications, +47 928 85 542, torbjorn.andersen@kvaerner.com, www.kvaerner.com; Equinor, Pal Eitrheim, VP New Energy Solutions, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kvaerner,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Equinor,  

EDPR, Aker Solutions
Date: 2019-10-21
A consortium of WindPower Korea, EDP Renewables and the engineering firm Aker Solutions are reporting plans to develop an initial 500MW floating wind farm off the coast of Ulsan Metropolitan City in South Korea. Principle Power will supply its proven WindFloat® foundation technology for the project.

The South Korean Government is calling for 13 GW of offshore wind to be installed by 2030 and set a target of at least 30 pct renewable energy by 2040.

The Ulsan area is considered well-suited for commercializing floating wind, due to the combination of industry-leading shipyards, maritime expertise and port facilities in the region. (Source: WindPower Korea, EDPR Renewables, Aker Solutions, reve, 189 Oct., 2019) Contact: WindPower Korea, +82-2-584-5326, kwsuh@windpowerkorea.com, www.windpowerkorea.com; Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; EDP Renewables, +351 21 001 25 00, www.edpr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Aker Solutions,  EDPR,  

Rutgers University
Date: 2019-10-11
In the Garden State, New Brunswick-based Rutgers University reports Professor Onur Bilgen, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was recently awarded a U.S. DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), $1,356,872 grant for wind turbine research.

The ARPA-E's Aerodynamic Turbines Lighter and Afloat with Nautical Technologies and Integrated Servo-control (ATLANTIS) program focuses on three areas critical to the successful development of radically new floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) -- new designs, new computer tools, and experiments that collect data to validate the FOWT designs and computer tools.

Bilgen and his team plans to use their software to design a FOWT that generates more electricity while using fewer materials to manufacture and reducing turbine maintenance and operational costs. (Source: Rutgers University, PR, 10 Oct., 2019) Contact: Rutgers University, Professor Onur Bilgen, 848-445-5869, o.bilgen@rutgers.edu, www.mae.rutgers.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  Rutgers,  

MHI Vestas
Date: 2019-10-09
Wind turbine manufacturer MHI Vestas Offshore Wind reports it has signed a preferred supplier agreement to supply turbines for the €230 million ($252.6 million), 28.5-MW Groix & Belle-Ile pilot floating wind project off the French coast.

MHI Vestas will provide three of its V164-9.5MW machines that will be used instead of the initially planned 6-MW General Electric turbines.

Project participants include CGN Europe Energy, la Banque des Territoires and French renewables firm Eolfi. (Source: MHI Vestas, Renewables, Oct., 2019) Contact: MHI Vestas, Philippe Kavafyan, CEO, +45 97 30 00 00, vestas@vestas.com, www.vestas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News MHI Vestas,  Floating Wind,  

Equinor,Aker Solutions,NREL
Date: 2019-10-07
A new Offshore Wind California coalition of renewable energy companies is calling for the Golden State to commit to a goal of at least 10 GW of primarily floating offshore wind power in California waters by 2040.

The group that counts Equinor and offshore engineering company Aker Solutions among its members notes that U.S. East Coast states have about 22 GW worth of offshore wind commitments and are projected to see an estimated $70 billion in related supply chain spending by 2030.

The US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates California's potential for offshore wind at about 112 GW, including about 8.4 GW in three Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) designated study areas. NREL also notes that floating wind platforms are a basic requirement for most of the state's offshore waters, which are too deep to support monopile or multi-leg jackets. (Source: NREL, Maritime Executive, Oct., 2019) Contact: NREL, www.nrel.gov; Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; Equinor, Pal Eitrheim, VP New Energy Solutions, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Offshore Wind,  Floating Offshore Wind,  BOEM,  NREL,  Equinor,  Aker Solutions,  Offshore Wind,  

National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
Date: 2019-09-13
The new federally-funded U.S. National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium reports awarding its first contract to the U.S. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The $300,000 award will support NREL's work on the economic feasibility of shared mooring lines to cut deep-water floating wind farm costs by connecting adjacent turbine platforms and distributing load, resulting in fewer anchors and considerable savings.

The DOE-created consortium is funded with $20 million to conduct research and development to address technological barriers and lower the costs and risks of offshore wind in the United States. To that end, DOE and Department of the Interior (DOI) identified the following research areas to facilitate the development of the U.S. offshore wind industry: wind plant technology advancement; wind resource and physical site characterization, and; installation, operations and maintenance, and supply chain technology solutions.

The Consortium is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA). (Source: National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, ENR, 11 Sept., 2019)Contact: National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, www.energy.gov › eere › national-offshore-wind-rd-consortium; NYSERDA, Alicia Barton, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Wind R&D,  NYSERDA,  

Windfloat Atlantic,EDP,Repsol
Date: 2019-07-24
Windplus is reporting the installation of the first Windfloat Atlantic turbine on its three-turbine floating platform -- the first such platform in continental Europe and largest turbine ever to be installed on a floating platform -- is underway in the outer harbor of Ferrol, Spain.

The project belongs to the Bremen, Germany-based Windplus consortium, which is jointly owned by EDP Renovaveis with 54.4 pct, ENGIE with 24 pct and Repsol at 19.4 pct and Principle Power Inc. with the balance. The project will incorporate 3 Vestas turbines to collectively deliver an installed capacity of 25 MW -- sufficient power for 60,000 homes in one year. (Source: Windfloat Atlantic, reve, 18 July, 2019) Contact: EDP Renovaveis, www.edpr.com, www.edp.com/en/windfloat; Repsol, www.repsol.com; Windplus, Dr. Carsten Meyer, 0421 897 660 0, c.meyer@windplus.de, www.windplus.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News Windplus,  Repsol,  Windfloat Atlantic,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Shizen Energy,Ideol
Date: 2019-07-01
Japanese solar power company Shizen Energy reports it is expanding its renewable energy activity and, to that end, has inked an agreement with French offshore wind developer Ideol to collaborate on a floating wind farm off the coast of Japan.

Historically, Shizen Energy focused on solar energy and helped develop about 800 MW of renewable power across Japan.

Ideol is a global leader and pure player in floating foundations for offshore wind and has been engineering and accompanying floating offshore wind projects from conception to installation since 2010, according to the company website. (Source: Shizen Energy, Maritime Executive, 26 June, 2019)Contact: Shizen Energy, Masaya Hasegawa, Company Founder, www.shizenenergy.net/en; Ideol, +33 4 86 20 80 50, www.ideol-offshore.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ideol,  Floating Offshore Wind,  Shizen Energy,  

Equinor
Date: 2019-06-05
Oslo-headquartered Norwegian energy company Equinor is reportedly interested in developing an €860 million, 200-MW floating wind farm offshore Spain's Gran Canaria island, according to various media.from the coast of Juan Grande.

Equinor expects to start working on obtaining the necessary permits for the project by the end of the year and to put the wind farm into operation in 2024. If selected, the project is expected to be similar to Equinor's 30MW Hywind Scotland, the world's first commercial-scale floating wind farm operation. (Source: Equinor, Offshore Wind Biz, 4 June, 2019) Contact: Equinor, www.equinor.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Equinor,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind Farm,  

EnerOcean
Date: 2019-04-22
In Spain, Malaga-headquartered EnerOcean S.L. is touting its W2Power floating turbine, a 1:6 scale prototype of which which is slated for sea-testing beginning next month. The prototype, generating just 200kW of power, is expected to pave the way for massive future turbines generating 10-12MW each.

According to developer EnerOcean, "The W2Power solution offers greater power generation without the need to increase the use of steel in the construction of the platform, thus becoming the lowest cost floating solution for the generation of wind energy in deep waters." Depending upon the prototype's success, EnerOcean S.L. foresees a 300-MW marine offshore wind farm by 2025. (Source: EnerOcean S.L., Olive Press, April, 2019) Contact: EnerOcean S.L., www.enerocean.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News EnerOcean ,  Wind,  Wind Turbine,  Offshore Wind,  

MHI Vestas
Date: 2019-04-03
MHI Vestas reports it will supply 5 units of its V164-9.5 MW wind turbine to the 50 MW Kincardine Floating Offshore Wind Park just south of Aberdeen Bay in Scotland. The five 9.5 MW turbines will join an existing single Vestas V80-2.0 MW turbine which came on line in Nov., 2018. The 5 additional turbines are being installed on Windfloat semi-submersible foundations moored in water depths of 60 to 80 meters. MHI Vestas expects the turbines to be installed in the Spring of 2020.

The wind park is being developed by the Madrid-headquartered developer and construction company Cobra Group, part of the ACS Group. (Source: MHI Vestas, CleanTechnica, 2 April, 2019) Contact: MHI Vestas, Philippe Kavafyan, CEO, +45 97 30 00 00, vestas@vestas.com, www.vestas.com; Cobra Group, +34 914 56 95 00, www.grupocobra.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News MHI Vestas,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

X1 Wind
Date: 2019-03-29
Barcelona-based X1 Wind reports it will lead a consortium of nine partners that will develop a floating wind projectb that has been granted €4 million by the EU Commission Horizon 2020 finance. The pilot will deploy a prototype of X1 Wind's PivotBuoy technology at a test site at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN). The prototype is expected to be installed by 2020.

The group aims to unlock cost competitive floating wind energy through the innovative structure, which it claims can reduce platform weight by as much as 80 pct and costs by 50 pct, according to the company. Ultimately, the consortium hopes to make floating wind more competitive and achieve prices of 50€/MWh in commercial scale wind farms. said: “In the last decade, a number of prototypes have successfully proven floating wind is technically feasible but costs need to be reduced by at least 50%. Technology disruption is required to achieve large-scale competitive floating offshore wind. “Together with a consortium of nine cutting edge research and development institutions and industry partners, we plan to demonstrate the advantages of our innovative PivotBuoy system.” (Source: X1 Wind, EnergyLive 28 Mar., 2019) Contact: X1 Wind, Alex Raventos, CEO, info@x1wind.com, www.x1wind.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Floating Wind,  

European Marine Energy Centre
Date: 2019-03-22
In Scotland, the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) reports it will lead the €31 million AFLOWT (Accelerating market uptake of Floating Offshore Wind Technology) project to test a full-scale floating wind turbine installed at the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) facility off the west coast of Ireland. AMETS is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The floating turbine to be tested was developed by Italian energy firm Saipem and is expected to begin operating by 2022.

The four-year project is being funded by the European Commission's Interreg North West Europe programme to boost innovation in North-West Europe. (Source: European Marine Energy Centre, The Engineer, 21 Mar., 2019) Contact: European Marine Energy Centre, +44 185685 2020, www.emec.org.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Marine Energy Centre ,  Wind,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Marlenique Estate
Date: 2019-03-06
In South Africa, Marlenique Estate, a fruit farm outside of Franschhoek, reports the unveiling of Africa's first state-of-the-art floating solar PV system constructed by New South Energy.

The facility is the first commercially-operated floating solar system on the African continent as well as the largest, at 60kWp.

The first phase of the project also includes the installation of a land-based solar PV system on the farm, allowing the farm to run 90 pct of its cold storage, irrigation and wedding venue facilities off the grid. In the second phase, battery packs will be added to the current set up, removing the estate from the main power grid completely. (Source: Capetown ETC, Mar., 2019) Contact: New South Energy, David Masureik, www.newsouthernenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Wind,  

Date: 2019-02-27
The European Commission (EC) reports it will provide investment and operating aid to four French floating wind demonstration projects: the Groix Belle Ile project will be located in the Atlantic Ocean, while the other three projects (Golf du Lion, Eolmed and Provence Grand Large) will be located in the Mediterranean Sea. Each will consist of three or four turbines and have a total installed capacity of 24MW.

The demonstration wind farms will receive both .

Earlier this year, the U.S. DOE announced up to $28 million in funding for a new floating offshore wind turbines via the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, Aerodynamic Turbines, Lighter and Afloat, with Nautical Technologies and Integrated Servo-control (ATLANTIS).

Navigant Research anticipates that over 69GW of new offshore wind capacity will be installed between 2018 and 2027, exceeding 100GW of operating capacity by 2030. (Source: EC, MarEx, 25 Feb., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Floating Wind,  

DNV GL,Windplus
Date: 2018-11-09
Energy advisory and certification specialist DNV GL is reporting completion of a lenders' technical due diligence on the 25-MW Windfloat Atlantic floating wind farm project now under construction off the coast of Portugal.

DNV GL's technical due diligence reportedly helped secure the €60 million from the European Investment Bank so the project could become the world's first project-financed floating wind farm.

The project is being developed by Windplus and will incorporate three 8.4-MW MHI Vestas turbines, the largest and most powerful wind turbines ever installed on a floating foundation platform.

Windplus is a subsidiary of EDP Renewables, Repsol and Principle Power.(Source: DNG GL, Windpower Eng., 7 Nov., 2019)Contact: EIB, www.eib.org; Windplus SA, www.offshorewind.biz/tag/windplus; EDP Renovaveis, www.edpr.com; DNV GL, Liv Hovem, CEO, +47 6757 9900, www.dnvgl.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Windplus,  DNV GL,  Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  ,  

European Investment Bank,EDP Renováveis
Date: 2018-10-24
The European Investment Bank (EIB is reporting a € 60 million loan to Portuguese energy giant EDP Renovaveis subsidiary Windplus S.A. for the construction of a first-of-its-kind, semi-submersible platform offshore floating wind farm to be located about 20 km off the coast of Portugal.

The project will also be supported by the InnovFin Energy Demonstration Project facility, which is funded under the EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme , and an additional €29.9 million from the EU NER300 programme, plus up to €6 million from the Government of Portugal, through the Portuguese Carbon Fund.

Until 2020, "InnovFin -- EU Finance for Innovators" offers a range of tailored products which will make available financing in support of research and innovation (R&I) by small, medium-sized and large companies and the promoters of research infrastructures. (Source: European Investment Bank, EDP Renewables, 19 October, 2018) Contact: EIB, www.eib.org; Windplus SA, www.offshorewind.biz/tag/windplus; EDP Renovaveis, www.edpr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Investment Bank,  Wind,  EDP Renovaveis,  Repsol,  Windplus S.A,  

Korean Energy Ministry
Date: 2018-06-27
In Seoul, the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reports the country will add 12 gigawatt of new wind power capacity by 2030. The new energy road map aims to acquire 48.7 GW of new clean energy sources, with 12 GW of them coming from wind power plants.

Initially, the government plans to establish 500 MW-class wind turbines in coastal areas and explore ways to converge them with shipping, ship building and other marine-based industries. It also aims to create large-scale floating wind farms. (Source: Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, The Investor, 28 June, 2018)Contact: Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, english.motie.go.kr

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  Korea Renewable Energy,  Wind,  

Hexicon
Date: 2018-06-20
In Stockholm, Swedish engineering company Hexicon AB notes it it has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for mutual cooperation with Busan Techno Park and Renewable Energy Center in Busan, South Korea , for the development of floating offshore wind technology for the Korean market. To that end, the Swedish company has received grant funding from the Korean Business and Energy Agency to investigate how multi-turbine platforms can be adapted to local conditions.

Hexicon previously announced plans to transfer its floating wind platform technology to a new joint venture with Coens in South Korea, where it wants to offer serial production of locally-made units. (.Source: Hexicon AB, Renewables Now, 20 June, 2018) Contact: Hexicon AB, +46 (0) 8 525 064 00, info@hexicon.eu, www.hexicon.eu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hexicon,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  

STX Europe Offshore Energy,Ideol
Date: 2018-05-23
La Ciotat, France-based Ideol and STX Europe Offshore Energy report they are joining forces to develop a floating substation that will be compatible with both bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind farms.

Based on Ideol's shallow-draft Damping Pool concept and designed to operate in the world's most extreme environments, the universal floating substation will remain flexible to client demands and/or specific certification requirements and accommodate both bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind farms starting at depths of 30 meters.

The solution aims at being market-ready for France's upcoming floating commercial tenders, accoring to a statement. (Source: Ideol, STX, Windpower Eng., May, 2018) Contact: Ideol, +33 (0)4 86 20 80 50, www.ideol-offshore.com/en STX Solutions Europe, www.offshore-technology.com/contractors/design-engineering, www.offshorewind.biz/tag/stx-europe-offshore-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News STX Europe Offshore Energy,  Offshore Wind,  Offshore Energy,  Ideol,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  

Hexicon AB
Date: 2018-04-30
Swedish engineering company Hexicon AB reports it will transfer its floating wind platform technology to a new South Korean JV with COENS Co Ltd, where it will offer serial production of locally-made units. COENS Co Ltd has working experience in oil and gas sector.

Hexicon's platform accommodates multiple wind turbines and offers competitive advantages in wind park formations resulting in lower costs per installed MW, according to a company statement. (Source: Hexicon AB, PR, April, 2018) Contact: Hexicon AB, www.hexicon.eu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hexicon AB,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  

Aker Solutions,Principle Power
Date: 2018-02-09
Oslo-headquartered Aker Solutions reports it has invested in Emeryville, California-based floating wind power technology company Principle Power Inc., forming an alliance that brings Aker's extensive track record in developing offshore oil and gas fields, with particular capabilities in floating facilities, to the rapidly growing offshore wind sector.

The partnership will help bring Principle Power's innovative WindFloat offshore wind floating foundations to a broader market. The WindFloat foundation allows wind turbines to be placed at offshore sites with some of the most abundant wind resources, irrespective of water depths. Installation, operation and maintenance of the WindFloat foundation lower the risks, costs and environmental impact compared with competing technology.

Aker Solutions purchased an initial 5 pct stake in Principle Power and will increase this to 10 pct by the end of this year. It has the option to increase ownership further at a later stage. Financial details of the transaction have not been released. (Source: Aker Solutions, 7 Feb., 2018) Contact: Aker Solutions, Luis Araujo, CEO, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; Principle Power, (510) 280- 5180, www.principlepowerinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aker Solutions,  Offshore Wind,  Principle Power ,  

Seawind Ocean Technology,WRE Hellas
Date: 2018-01-19
Netherlands-headquartered two-bladed offshore wind turbine pioneer Seawind Ocean Technology reports the inking of an agreement with Greek wind and solar farm operator WRE Hellas SA to develop small-scale offshore wind farms in the Aegean Sea. Seawind will deliver two-bladed turbines with floating foundations for the project.

The two firms intend to develop a series of deep water mini offshore windfarms under the Clean Energy for EU Islands Programme, a long-term framework to help the 2,000+ inhabited EU islands generate their own sustainable, low-cost energy.

In Seawind's innovative turbine design, the rotor is uncoupled from the shaft using a teetering hinge thus eliminating the need for a blade pitch mechanism for a much lighter turbine head and tower. The systems are assembled onshore and launched at sea by semi-submersible vessels. Seawind's concrete bottom tethered and floating offshore units have concrete support structures were developed in collaboration with Olav Olsen in Norway. Seawind's 10.4 turbine will generate approximately 45M kWh at 8.5 m/s wind speed. (Source: Seawind Ocean Technology, Offshore Wind, 17 Jan., 2018) Contact: Seawind Ocean Technology, Martin Jakubowski, CEO, nfo@seawindtechnology.com, www.seawindtechnology.com; WRE Hellas, +30.210.9373060, www.wre.gr

More Low-Carbon Energy News Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  

SeaTwirl
Date: 2018-01-10
SeaTwirl AB, the Swedish developer of a floating vertical axis wind turbine with folding blades, is reporting receipt of a U.S. patent for kenetic energy storage that uses flywheel technology to optimize the rotational speed of a wind turbine.

The solution works by moving mass to or from the center of rotation by which the output power can be maintained with less wind and thus be optimized to reduce fluctuations on the electric grid.(Source: SeaTwirl, offshoreWIND.biz, Jan., 2018) Contact: SeaTwirl, Gabriel Strängberg, CEO, https://seatwirl.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Flywheel,  Floating Wind,  SeaTwirl ,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Norway Minister of Petroleum and Energy
Date: 2017-12-18
In Oslo, the Norwegian The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has announced it will open one to two offshore areas for the development of floating wind power demonstration projects. The move is in keeping with the country's just launched wind power strategy. The move is intended to help the Norwegian wind and related industries "seize the opportunities associated with the development of offshore wind." The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has identified five suitable offshore wind areas for development. (Source: Offshore Wind Biz, Dec., 2017) Contact: Norway Minister of Petroleum and Energy, www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/oed/id750

More Low-Carbon Energy News Offshore Wind,  Norway Wind,  Floating Wind,  

Statoil,Younicos
Date: 2017-12-01
Upon winning Hywind Scotland's Batwind floating wind farm energy storage contract, Norwegian state-owned Statoil, in partnership with Masdar, reports it has awarded a contract to Berlin-based intelligent energy storage and grid solutions specialist Younicos Energy to deliver a 1 MW/1,3 MWh battery storage system for connection to Hywind Scotland's Batwind project which is expected to be operational in Q2, 2018.

Hywind Scotland, 15 miles off the coast of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is operated by Statoil on behalf of partner Masdar. Statoil holds an ownership share of 75 pct and Masdar 25 pct. (Source: Statoil, Elec. Light & Power, 28 Nov., 2017) Contact: Younicos Energy, James P. McDougall, CEO, Philip Hiersemenzel, 011 +49 174 908 8188, www.younicos.com; Statoil Energy Ventures, Gareth Burns, Irene Rummelhoff, VP, +47 51 99 00 00, www.statoil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Younicos,  Batwind,  Statoil,  Wind,  Floating Wind,  

Statoil,Masdar
Date: 2017-11-01
Norwegian state-owned Statoil in partnership with Masdar, reports the inauguration of the world’'s first floating offshore wind farm, Hywind Scotland, 15 miles off the coast of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The 30-MW pilot Hywind Scotland will generate sufficient electric power for about 20,000 U.K. households.

The project utilizes 5 Siemens turbines measuring 584 feet high and 505 feet in diameter. The facility's onshore operations and maintenance base is in Peterhead, while the operations center is in Great Yarmouth. Batwind, a 1-MW lithium battery storage system for offshore wind energywill be installed to mitigate intermittency and optimize output. (Source: Statoil, Commercial Property Exec., 30 Oct., 2017)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Statoil,  Masdar,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind,  

Statoil ,Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy
Date: 2017-10-23
Statoil and its partner Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. are reporting construction of the 30MW "Hywind" pilot project, the world's first floating deep-ocean wind farm off the coast of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. WHen fully opereational, the facility will generate sufficient power for about 20,000 households.

According to a Statoil statement, existing fixed turbines were only best for water depths of 20 to 50 meters. The new floating design is suitable for water depths of 100 meters or more where average wind speeds are often around 10 meters per second. (Source: Statoil, Inquirer, 22 Oct., 2017) Contact: Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy, www.masdar.ae; Statoil, Irene Rummelhoff, Exec VP New Energy Ventures, Stephen Bull, Snr, VP, Offshore Wind, Leif Delp, Hywind Project Dir., +47 51 99 00 00, www.statoil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Wind,  Statoil,  Mardar,  

Floatgen,Ideol
Date: 2017-10-18
Paris-headquartered wind energy developer Ideol is reporting the inauguration Floatgen, a 2 MW offshore demonstration project to establish the technical reliability and economic feasibility of deep water floating wind turbines.

The demo project will incorporate a Vestas V80 2 Mw turbine and is intended to demonstrate the development potential of offshore deep-water wind projects that make better use of higher wind resources. The patented floating wind foundation is expected to be installed by the year end. (Source: Ideol, EBR, 16 Oct., 2017) Contact: Ideol, +33 (0)4 86 20 80 50, www.ideol-offshore.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ideol,  Floatgen,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind Turbine,  

Offshore Wind
Date: 2017-10-11
New research into open ocean wind speeds and reliability for wind power generation has found they could power the entire world, if they could be harnessed. The research, led by Anna Possner at the Washington, DC headquartered Carnegie Institution for Science, also found that such a project could dramatically alter the climate in potentially dangerous and unpredictable ways. Even so, the study found the overall outlook for using ocean winds for power to be "extremely positive."

The report suggests a floating wind farm placed in an area of the ocean where wind speeds are up to 70 pct higher than they are onshore could generate an "absolutely incredible amount of energy and, according to the data, could sustain human civilization on its own."

Access the report HERE. (Source: BGR, Japan Today, Various Others, 9 Oct., 2017) Contact: Carnegie Institution for Science, Anna Possner, www.anna-possner.com; Carnegie Institution for Science, (202) 387-6400, https://carnegiescience.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind Turbine,  Offshore Wind,  

Dietswell SA
Date: 2017-09-27
French engineering firm Dietswell SA is confirming receipt of €2.4 million ($2.9 million ) in financing from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) for the Eolfloat project to support the development of a semi-submersible floating platform for large-scale offshore wind turbines.

The €4.6 million Eolfloat project covers engineering, detailed construction studies and basin trials of a scale-model Trussfloat floating platform, using a scale model. A commercial version is possible at end-2018, according to Dietswell. (Source: Dietswell, Sept., 2017) Contact: Dietswell, +33 1 39 30 02 60, contact@dietswell.com, www.dietswell.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Floating Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Statoil
Date: 2017-07-26
Norwegian company Statoil reports its Hywind fully floating offshore wind farm -- the world's first full-scale floating wind turbine installation -- is well underway 25 km off Peterhead, Scotland. When fully operation by the year end, Hywind will generate sufficient electric power for 20,000 Scottish homes.

According to Statoil, the new wind farm will be the first of many in waters too deep to anchor conventional wind turbines on the seabed. Instead, the turbine tower is mounted on a huge, weighted tube that floats 78 meters deep in the sea and held in place by underwater mooring lines. The 12,000 tonne, 253 meter-high towers were built in Spain and assembled at Stord in Norway. The Hywind project costs £190 million ($337 million) and was subsidised by the British government. (Source: Statoil, BBC, Strait Times, Others, 25 July, 2017)Contact: Statoil, Irene Rummelhoff, Exec VP New Energy Ventures, Stephen Bull, Snr, VP, Offshore Wind, Leif Delp, Hywind Project Dir., +47 51 99 00 00, www.statoil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Statoil,  Floating Offshore Wind,  Wind,  

Trident Winds
Date: 2017-07-05
In the Golden State, Trident Winds LLC is proposing construction of a 60 -- 100 turbine deep water wind farm off the coast, from Cayucos to north of Piedras Blancas. The project, which would be more than 20 miles offshore, would utilize floating foundations and would generate 1,000 MW of electricity that would reach the mainland through underwater transmission lines to the PG&E substation in Morro Bay. Subject to approvals and other considerations, the project could be operational and online sometime in 2025, the company says.

Trident was the first company to apply for a lease to build a wind farm off the Central Coast. The land it would be leasing is in federal waters, so the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is the responsible agency. Statoil, a Norwegian energy company, has since applied to compete for the lease. (Source: Trident Wind LLC, Tribune, July, 2017) Contact: Trident Winds LLC,, Alla Weinstein, www.tridentwinds.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Trident Winds,  Offshore,  Deep Water Wind Wind,  Floating Wind Foundation,  

Siemens Gamesa
Date: 2017-06-28
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is reporting the installation of 6MW of wind turbines have now been installed on floating foundations in Stord, Norway, at the 30 MW Hywind Scotland project. The floating wind turbines will be towed to Scottish waters and installed at world's largest floating wind project off the coast of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in water depths between 90 and 120 meters.

The floating foundations are ballast-stabilized and anchored to the seabed. Commissioning of the Hywind project is slated for 4Q, 2017. (Source: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, PR, Windtech, 26 June, 2017) Contact: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Michael Hannibal, CEO, Offshore Wind, www.gamesacorp.com/gamesa/en/siemensgamesa.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens Gamesa,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Offshore Wind ,  

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Date: 2017-06-14
Researchers from U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) are projecting that the Northeast will make up about one-third of U.S. offshore wind generation by 2050. The agency cites high wind speeds and shallow water depths that "allow for more cost effective construction with currently available wind turbine platform technology" for its projection.

BOEM also projects that the waters farther off the Gulf of Maine with faster winds will likely require floating turbines, like the design in development at the University of Maine -- see our March 14, 2016 UMass Developing Multiple Offshore Wind Anchorage System coverage for details. (Source: BOEM, BDN Maine, June, 2017) Contact: BOEM, (202) 208-6474, www.boem.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ,  Offshore Wind,  Floating Wind Turbines,