DemoSATH floating offshore wind project switches on

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 has now been completed.

“We are proud of the work accomplished and of being the pioneers in Spain in providing renewable energy with a floating wind turbine,” said David Carrascosa, chief operations officer at developer Saitec Offshore Technologies.

Significant milestone

The platform, two miles off the Basque coast, features a turbine capable of generating up to 2MW of electricity. 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.

The commissioning marks the beginning of a two-year operational period to gather data about the behavior of the SATH technology, and the monitoring of the systems installed on the platform to understand its interaction with the surrounding ecosystem.

Specialised 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.

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 Electrical Power Co. Inc. (KEPCO).