Offshore staff
BILBOA, Spain – Saitec Offshore Technologies and the open sea test site Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) have signed a contract to install the DemoSATH project off the Basque coast in Spain.
The project will test the first floating wind foundation connected to the Spanish grid using SATH (Swinging Around Twin Hull) technology. This is based on a twin hull made of modularly prefabricated and subsequently braced concrete elements. The float can align itself around a single point of mooring according to the wind and wave direction.
Marine operations are planned by the end of 2021. Once connected to the grid, DemoSATH is expected to supply electricity to almost 2,000 homes.
With a 2-MW wind turbine, the structure, which will be about 30 m (98 ft) wide and 67 m (220 ft) long, will be assembled in the port of Bilbao. From there, it will be towed to its anchorage point in BiMEP, 2 mi off the coast where the water depth is about 85 m (279 ft).
The main aim is to analyze its behavior under real operational and extreme conditions, collect data, and gain real-life knowledge from the construction, operation, and maintenance of the unit. The pilot project will last 3.5 years: 18 months for the planning and construction of the plant, followed by a two-year operating phase.
The ultimate objective is to gather experience to implement improvements and optimizations to future commercial projects, the company said.
David Carrascosa, chief technical officer of Saitec Offshore Technologies, said: “DemoSATH project will not only focus on technological validation, it will also prove the local content potential of SATH’s manufacturing as a result of the combination of both civil construction and offshore supply chains. We estimate that at least 70% of the contracting budget will be awarded to local industry.”
06/12/2020
