Gazelle Wind Power has signed a memorandum of understanding with Maersk Supply Service to support the development of a 2MW floating offshore wind pilot plant at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands test site in Spain.
Maersk Supply Service will provide the project’s engineering, procurement, construction and installation, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
The partnership is the next step in bringing Gazelle’s patented, hybrid floating wind platform and first-of-its-kind dynamic mooring system to the commercial market, the company said.
Having demonstrated the capabilities of its technology with a statement of feasibility from classification organization DNV, Gazelle’s platform enables projects to be placed in deep waters and is much lighter than conventional platforms, it added.
Gazelle said the platform is also more compact and simpler to build, deploy, and maintain than other floating platforms, which translates to a lower levelised cost of energy.
Gazelle Wind Power non-executive director Connie Hedegaard said: “Maersk has an impressive track record and we could not have asked for a better organization to work with on this project.
“This agreement with Maersk will help Gazelle accelerate the momentum of the development of its hybrid floating platform and open up the massive offshore wind market.”
Maersk Supply Service’s floating wind solutions director Yvan Leyni added: “Green transition and decarbonisation initiatives are at the heart of our strategy.
“We are committed to being at the forefront of the rapidly evolving floating wind industry and are delighted to support the Gazelle pilot project.”