Japanese developer Tepco Renewable Power has joined the consortium of companies preparing to launch a demo of Stiesdal Offshore Technology’s TetraSpar concept off Norway.
Tepco has taken a 30% stake in the demonstration project, which will see a TetraSpar base supporting a 3.6MW Siemens Gamesa turbine installed at the Marine Energy Test Centre off Stavanger this summer.
The other shareholders of the project are Shell (46.2%), RWE (23.1%) and Stiesdal Offshore Technologies (0.7%).
Tepco President Seiichi Fubasami said he was very happy the company has joined the demo.
“The TetraSpar technology can also be utilized in Japan’s natural conditions and a more efficient supply chain can be established closer to the project sites,” he said.
“We believe it is a promising technology that can play an important part in efforts to promote the transition to renewable energies as primary energy sources.”
The TetraSpar design is a tetrahedral structure built from tubular steel components.
For the forthcoming demo Danish turbine tower fabricator Welcon has built the parts, which were assembled into a complete base in the Norwegian port of Grenaa last year.
The project partners said the assembly process, which involves no welding, took just two months.
Chairman of the board of TetraSpar demonstrator project Henrik Stiesdal said Tepco brings valuable floating wind expertise to the project.
“With Tepco on board we can expand the scope of the demonstration in several ways, including an increased technical rage of testing,” he said.