A demonstration project that will see a 10-MW offshore wind turbine tested on Olav Olsen’s OO-Star Wind Floater semi-submersible concrete foundation has got underway.
The aim of the European Union Horizon 2020-funded FLAGSHIP project is to help reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of floating wind to 40-60 €/MWh by 2030. The four-year, €25M project was launched virtually on 17 September.
As highlighted by OWJ, the project will develop and fabricate the first 10-MW floating wind turbine and test it in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
Olav Olsen’s patented OO-Star Wind Floater is a concrete semi-submersible structure with an easy-to-install mooring and anchoring concept. The project will also be used to test new cable concepts for the moorings for the floater, and new ways to install moorings.
Production of the floating platform is expected to start in the third quarter of 2021. It is due to be installed in the first quarter of 2022.
The consortium led by Iberdrola includes companies and institutions from five countries. They include Core-Marine, Cener, IHCantabria, Zabala Innovation Consulting in Spain; Olav Olsen, Kvaerner, UnitechSubsea and Marine Energy Test Centre (MET), in Norway; EDF in France; Danmarks Tekniske Universitet in Denmark; and DNV GL in Germany. The floater will be installed at the MET.
The project is regarded as the start point for the potential development of a large-scale, 500+ MW commercial floating windfarm of the type that could be developed in the North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic.
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.