BadaEnergy, a consortium consisting of Corio Generation, TotalEnergies, and SK ecoplant, has announced the selection of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) as the preferred bidder for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of its 504MW Gray Whale 3 floating offshore wind farm in South Korea. The Ulsan floating offshore wind cluster, comprising Gray Whale 1, 2, and 3 projects, aims to become a 1.5GW complex located approximately 60km east of Ulsan Port.
The collaboration with HHI involves a task force with the BadaEnergy team and Vestas, chosen as the Preferred Wind Turbines Supplier, to optimize the design and industrialize the execution plan. Vestas will contribute to the fabrication of the 33 hulls, the integration of turbines, and their installation on the floater.
The Gray Whale 3 project is a key component of BadaEnergy's strategy to localize all stages of offshore wind projects, promoting rapid implementation. The entire Ulsan offshore wind cluster is expected to commence construction in 2025, with a commercial operation date set for 2028.
BadaEnergy also relocated its office to a larger facility in Ulsan, facilitating improved communication with local municipalities, stakeholders, and supply chains for the project. The move aligns with the company's commitment to advancing its strategy in the South Korean offshore wind sector.
The opening ceremony for BadaEnergy's new Ulsan office was attended by industry stakeholders, including representatives from the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HHI, Vestas, and local supply chains. The company sees its Ulsan-based floating offshore wind projects as instrumental in aiding the city's achievement of net-zero targets and positioning it as a Special District for Distributed Energy.
BadaEnergy's co-representative director, Woojin Choi, emphasized the significance of the project in the context of global net-zero targets, highlighting the substantial market potential for floating offshore wind. The company envisions its projects playing a pivotal role in Korea's participation in the global floating offshore wind market.
Project Director Guillaume Le Maréchal and HHI's Head of Sales Operations, Seung-yong Park, expressed confidence in the success of the Gray Whale 3 project, underscoring the strong partnership between TotalEnergies and HHI. Vestas Korea's Country Manager, Srdan Cenic, conveyed the company's honor at being selected as the preferred turbine supplier and emphasized their commitment to delivering technological competitiveness and project execution expertise.
The Gray Whale 3 project is anticipated to serve as a testament to the revival of the local economy and showcase Korea's technological prowess on the global stage, creating a positive impact on the offshore wind sector.
