Haventus is working with project developers, global floating hull designers and heavy-lift technology businesses to develop an on-land assembly offering for floating foundations.
Haventus’ Ardersier Energy Transition Facility (Ardersier ETF), in the Scottish Highlands, is being readied as a base from which wind power developers can deploy the next generation of offshore floating turbines required to decarbonise the UK power grid.
Facilitating on-land assembly and turbine integration provides an “attractive alternative” for developers, removing the operational, logistical and engineering complexity that can come with marine-based operations.
The proposed solution would also provide a stable storage environment onshore, ahead of project deployment windows.
The Ardersier ETF, at a current developable land area of 350 acres, with proposals to extend to around 500 acres, is one of the few European facilities large enough to provide a land-based solution for these activities.
Detailed technical work is planned between Haventus, floating hull designers and heavy-lift experts and project developers, in order to finalize the configuration and works required.
Haventus Chief Executive, Lewis Gillies, said: “Our stated intent is to crystalize the industrialization of floating wind, that involves attracting manufacturers to the site and taking an innovative approach to significantly reduce the deployment risk for developers.
“Ultimately, it also supports the pace and scale at which clean energy goes into the grid.
“The potential for an end-to-end solution, on dry land, is an offering that developers have indicated they find compelling.
“The land availability at the Ardersier ETF makes it the perfect location.
“Through our partnership with leading floating hull designers and heavy-lift experts, and the technical results to date, we are confident that delivering an integrated turbine from land assembly, ready for sail-away from quayside, is a solution Haventus can deliver.”