Tenders launched in UK floating wind call

Each tender is worth £100,000 (€116,000) and entails:

• Seabed terrain assessment and hazard identification;
• Development of preliminary integrated ground models;
• Prospective developers understanding of the general ground conditions across the site;
• Concept foundation selection and development;
• High-level geotechnical and geological risk assessment and strategy; and
• Baseline data for preparation of relevant EIA chapters.

Consent for floating wind projects has already been granted in the Celtic Sea for two demo projects and two farms.

Blue Gem is building 100MW test and demo Erebus before going on to build the Valorous farm, further details of which have not been released.

A further two projects, a 100MW White Cross demonstration by Cobra and Flotation Energy and a 1,000MW project by BlueFloat Energy, are also in the pipeline.

“Floating wind is the next step in the development of the offshore wind sector, enabling turbines to operate further offshore in deeper water, where winds are stronger and more consistent,” says Cobra and Flotation Energy.

“White Cross will use innovative floating substructure technology that is anchored to the seabed. There will be up to eight floating substructures with each unit supporting a turbine.

“The objective of the White Cross Offshore wind farm site is to test floating technology in the Celtic Sea to in turn, support future development of offshore wind in the region and to progress local supply chain development.”

The projects are in the very early stages and building is not timetabled until 2025.