The floating offshore wind project DemoSATH, led by the Spanish engineering firm Saitec Offshore Technologies, in collaboration with the German energy company RWE Offshore Wind and the Japanese company THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC. (KEPCO), achieves a significant milestone as it commences electricity generation.
In August DemoSATH was installed offshore at the BiMEP testing area at Armintza in the Basque Country. Subsequently, the connection of the existing static seabed cable to the motion-absorbing dynamic cable, and the link to the platform's bow turret was successfully completed. This achievement enables the transmission of the generated electricity into the electrical grid through the BiMEP substation, converting the force of the wind into clean renewable energy.
The DemoSATH platform, located 2 miles off the Basque coast, features a turbine capable of generating up to 2MW of renewable energy. Its annual production is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 2,000 Spanish households. As a result of this project, floating offshore wind technology is being introduced as a new renewable generation technology in Spain's energy mix for the first time.
The commissioning marks the beginning of a two-year operational period to gather data about the behavior of the SATH technology, developed by Saitec Offshore Technologies, and the monitoring of the systems installed on the platform to understand its interaction with the surrounding ecosystem.
Specialized tools for the identification of birds and bats have been installed, as well as systems for monitoring marine ecosystem biodiversity (such as crustacean communities, other invertebrates, fish, and cetaceans) within the local environment. These monitoring activities will provide insights into the behavior of groups and species around the floating offshore turbine. Additionally, the project will involve the evaluation of environmentally friendly solutions, custom-designed for SATH, which will aim to support marine biodiversity and enhance fishing resources in floating offshore wind farms.
The DemoSATH project represents a significant milestone in the floating offshore wind industry, becoming Spain's first floating offshore wind turbine to connect to the electrical grid, the 5th European floating technology with a turbine of over 1 MW installed in open sea, and the 3rd concrete-based technology to reach this level of development.
David Carrascosa, Chief Operations Officer at Saitec Offshore Technologies, stated: "The start of energy generation from DemoSATH marks a culmination in the project. We are proud of the work accomplished and of being the pioneers in Spain in providing renewable energy with a floating wind turbine. This will be our testing ground to gain knowledge based on real-world experience and apply it in future larger-scale projects."
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO RWE Offshore Wind, commented: "We are glad to see that DemoSATH has been successfully commissioned. For us at RWE it is also another milestone on our way to unlock the great potential of floating wind globally, especially in countries with deeper coastal waters, like the US, France, UK, Norway and - certainly - Spain. Our ambition is to be a market leading floating wind player who safely develops, builds, and operates cost-competitive, commercial-scale floating wind projects around the world. Jointly with our other demonstration project, DemoSATH enables us to gain early experience for our future commercial-scale developments. Its unique concrete-based platform and single point mooring design further broadens our knowledge on innovative floating wind concepts."
Kazumi Ogura, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Division at Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. stated: "It is a great honor to reach this significant milestone as a member of the pioneering project. We would like to express our profound gratitude to the local community and numerous stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding. We are looking forward to applying the lessons learned from this project towards the advancement of a zero-carbon society."
DemoSATH generating renewable energy
The success of the project is due to the combined capabilities of the partners: Saitec Offshore Technologies, as the designer of the SATH technology and project developers; RWE Offshore Wind contributing its expertise in the floating offshore wind sector, and KEPCO with its experience in the field of energy.
In addition to this, the contributions of the supply chain companies and the institutional support received from the Spanish Government through The Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE) and The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), as well as from the Basque Government through The Basque Business Development Agency (SPRI), BEAZ, and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), have played a crucial role.
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Please direct enquiries to:
Coral Jaén
Head of communications and marketing Saitec Offshore Technologies
T. (+34) 94 464 65 11 M. (+34) 627 79 17 67
coraljaen@saitec.es
Sarah Knauber
Press Office RWE Offshore Wind
T +49 (0) 201 5179 5404 M +49 (0) 162 25 444 89
sarah.knauber@rwe.com
Saitec Offshore Technologies
Saitec Offshore Technologies is a spin-off of Saitec Engineering, an infrastructure engineering company with over 30 years of experience. Founded in 2016, the primary goal of Saitec Offshore Technologies is to facilitate the global expansion of offshore wind energy by introducing an innovative and cost-effective concrete floating technology that overcomes the limitations associated with water depth, reduces both CAPEX and OPEX and enhances local content.
Saitec Offshore Technologies is actively participating in tenders and developing commercial projects worldwide, with a focus on the UK, France, and Japan, where they have their subsidiary, Saitec Offshore Japan KK.
RWE
RWE is leading the way to a green energy world. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, the company will expand its powerful, green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030. RWE is investing more than 50 billion gross for this purpose in this decade. The portfolio is based on offshore and onshore wind, solar, hydropower, hydrogen, batteries, biomass, and gas. RWE Supply & Trading provides tailored energy solutions for large customers. RWE has locations in the attractive markets of Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company wants to phase out coal by 2030. RWE employs around 19,000 people worldwide and has a clear target: to get to net zero by 2040. On its way there, the company has set itself ambitious targets for all activities that cause greenhouse gas emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative has confirmed that these emission reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement. Very much in the spirit of the company's purpose: Our energy for a sustainable life.
THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. is one of the largest utilities in Japan, located in western Japan and established in 1951. Its major business fields are electric power, heat supply, telecommunications, and gas supply. In an effort to create a sustainable society, KEPCO declared "Zero Carbon Vision 2050" in which our group as a leading company of zero-carbon energy, is aiming for carbon neutrality throughout the entirety of its business activities including power generation by 2050.
