Spanish company Ferrovial was selected to manufacture and assemble the floating platform for the DemoSATH project. The pilot project was carried out by Saitec Offshore Technologies in partnership with RWE Renewables off the Basque coast. The structure and the 2 MW wind turbine of the DemoSATH prototype are assembled in the port of Bilbao. The base of the structure is about 30 metres wide and 64 metres long. The platform and turbine are towed to anchor at the test site about 3 kilometres off the Basque Atlantic coast. At this point, the ocean is about 85 metres deep. A hybrid anchor cable made of chain and plastic rope is anchored to the seabed and holds the floating platform in place. The plant is scheduled to start production in early 2022. The electricity generated will be fed into the Spanish grid, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of around 2,000 households and avoid the emission of more than 5,100 tonnes of CO2. The purpose of the project is to collect data and gain operational insights from the installation, operation and maintenance of the plant. Furthermore, the partners are not only interested in understanding the behaviour of the platform on the high seas, but also in gaining production experience in order to be able to plan future series production. The individual parts of the float are first prefabricated and then assembled. This approach by Saitec Offshore Technologies forms the basis for efficient industrial production, which is essential for the implementation of commercial floating projects.

Bildquelle: RWE

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