Innovation is focus of floating wind power conference

The second International FWP (Floating Wind Power) Atlantic Forum will offer interactive technical workshops looking at innovation and upcoming challenges.

Stakeholders will be able to engage with experts on topics such as operations and maintenance in GE renewable energy and sub-stations and grid connections in STX Europe offshore energy. Delegates can also participate in a SEM-REV test site and Floatgen demonstrator session.

Project financing

Other sessions will focus on what conditions need to be fulfilled in project financing, how port facilities can support every stage of floating wind development and the five levers for cost reduction in LCOE.

There will also be flash pitches by the companies of the four French test-sites: EDF En, Engie, Eolfi, Quadran, project reviews on international Scottish and American projects animated by Wind Europe and ‘matchmaking’ organised by Enterprise Europe Network.

In Lorient, there will be a roundtable on the Eolfi’s pilot floating array planned for 2020, and two technical visits to choose from.

Two tours

Tour one will include a session on designing the best sea-proof infrastructure, a visit to the ComposiTIC platform which specialises in innovative composites and a visit to CDK Technologies, a benchmark in the construction of prototype parts and large race boats made from high performance composites.

Tour two will include a session on how shipbuilding experience can be geared to dealing with maintenance in MRE projects, a visit to the diving and hyperbaric school ‘Scaphandriers travaux publics’ and a visit to the Piriou shipyard.

The conference will take place in France; from 2-3 October in Saint-Nazaire and continuing in Lorient on 4 October.

By Rebecca Jeffrey