Aker Solutions has won a contract to design the underwater substations for the 2800MW Italian floating wind project Med Wind.
The developer, Renexia, has signed a front-end engineering and design contract (FEED) with the company for the scheme off Trapani in the Mediterranean Sea.
Aker Solutions will work in close cooperation with its alliance partner ABB on the contract which involves the design of eight modules, two for each section of the Med Wind park, to be laid on the seabed of the Strait of Sicily, at a depth of between 520 metres and 660 metres, into which the cables of the plant’s floating turbines will be conveyed.
The energy produced by Med Wind will then arrive on land, at the Partanna and Partinico power stations, via a system of submarine and land-based cable ducts.
This is the first time Aker Solutions is engaged in an offshore wind project in the Mediterranean Sea.
Studies conducted by its consultancy branch identified significant savings in CAPEX and OPEX compared to alternative options, paving the way for the development of a unique solution.
Renexia opted for the Aker Solutions hardware because of its small footprint, resulting in minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.
The module’s components also played an important role in Renexia’s choice, as they do not require any major maintenance work for the 25 years of Med Wind’s concession.
Renexia’s chief operating officer Paolo Sammartino said: “Aker Solutions’ approach has all the parameters we were looking for: solidity, breakthrough technology and environmental impact reduction.
“We are delighted that the partner selected will join us on this important and challenging path, which will culminate in the construction of the first large-scale floating offshore wind farm in the Mediterranean Sea.”
The start of the design phase of these important elements was made possible by the results of oceanographic campaigns carried out over the past few months on the seabed where Med Wind will be built.
The collected samples and analyses, along with studies of sea currents, helped identify the most suitable areas for the entire plant.
These surveys also confirmed the project meets all sustainability criteria and aligns well with the marine environment.
Moreover, no sites of historical or archaeological significance were found anywhere near the area where the turbines will be moored.
Aker Solutions’ executive vice president of power solutions Jo Kjetil Krabbe said: “This award confirms Aker Solutions’ leading position in subsea power technologies for the offshore wind industry.
“It builds on our extensive proven experience from oil & gas and our close cooperation with clients and our subsea power alliance partner ABB.
“From the early stages of the project, we’ve worked together with ABB to identify the most sustainable, robust and cost-effective solutions.”
Med Wind will be developed in several stages and, once fully operational, will be able to produce about 9TWh per year of clean energy, equal to 3% of the national energy demand.