Innogy, Shell and Stiesdal Offshore Technologies are partnering on an €18m floating offshore wind demonstration project that will use the latter’s TetraSpar foundation concept.
The demo, which will use a Siemens Gamesa 3.6MW turbine, is due to be deployed in 2019 at the Marine Energy Test Centre near Stavanger in Norway.
The foundation will be manufactured and assembled in Denmark and the turbine will be installed in the port of Grenaa, from where it will be towed to the project site. It has a modular layout that comprises a tubular steel structure with a suspended keel.
At the project site 10km from shore the turbine will be moored to the seabed with three anchor lines and connected to the grid.
TetraSpar could offer competitive advantages over existing floating wind concepts, with the potential for “leaner manufacturing, assembly and installation processes with lower material costs”, the trio said.
Innogy renewables chief operating officer Hans Bunting said: “This demonstration project will give us a better understanding of how cost can be driven down.
“The industrialised approach of the TetraSpar design, combined with Innogy’s experience in delivering offshore wind projects, will enable large-scale, cost-effective deployment of floating wind projects around the world.”
Shell vice president of wind development Dorine Bosman said: “This initiative could help to lower the cost of offshore wind energy while providing more options for development locations, giving access to higher wind speeds and deeper water depths.
“Building our offshore wind business is a key part of the Shell New Energies strategy. Investing in innovative projects such as TetraSpar gives us early access to a new technology that could help us become a leading player in this field.”
Stiesdal Offshore Technologies chief executive Henrik Stiesdal said: “We are very excited about the prospects of carrying out the deployment and test of our full-scale demonstration project in collaboration with leading industry players.
“We have already benefited greatly from the dialogue with Innogy, Shell and Siemens Gamesa during the project planning. Their experience combined with the competences of our manufacturing and installation partners, Welcon and Blue Power Partners will put us on the fast-track for rapid commercialisation.”