Classification outfit Bureau Veritas has issued approval in principle for the WindFloat offshore wind floating foundation, developed by Principle Power.
The nod covers the second generation of the semi-submersible technology, which is planned as part of pilot array being developed in the French Mediterranean by Engie and Eiffage.
Bureau Veritas head of offshore Matthieu de Tugny said the technology “offers substantial advantages over fixed offshore wind turbines as the entire unit can be assembled ashore and (floating turbines) can be installed in deep water and areas with varied underwater landscapes”.
The company said “approval in principle” implies that the design is feasible, achievable, and contains no technological show-stoppers that may prevent the design from being matured and that the design is deemed to be suitable for use in the metocean conditions that the unit facility will be located in.
The prototype WindFloat (pictured) has been installed off Portugal since 2011.
Image: Principle Power
Bureau Veritas: floater is class act
Approval in principle for WindFloat second-generation design
By EBS