Haventus and Sarens PSG have unveiled a proposed low-cost, onshore solution for the integration and launch of floating offshore wind turbines, which they say could simplify logistics and reduce costs for the sector.
The approach involves assembling and integrating fully built floating wind turbines on land at the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility (ETF) in Scotland before launching them directly into the adjacent harbour. The companies say the method eliminates the need for complex marine-based integration, reducing reliance on weather conditions and the engineering challenges associated with offshore assembly.
“This heavy-lift solution, developed with Sarens PSG, is a radical departure from conventional practice; it will substantially reduce the cost of floating wind which ultimately can help reduce all of our electricity bills,” said Lewis Gillies, chief executive of Haventus.
Located near Inverness, the Ardersier ETF currently spans 350 acres, with plans to expand to approximately 500 acres. According to Haventus and Sarens PSG, it is one of the few European sites capable of providing the space required for such land-based operations at an industrial scale.
“This is potentially a game-changing step for floating offshore wind,” said Steve Clark, managing director of Sarens PSG. “By executing all heavy lifting operations whilst the floater is still onshore, we’re enabling fully integrated wind turbines to be assembled and launched safely, efficiently, and independent of marine weather delays.”
The companies argue that the onshore strategy offers several advantages, including streamlined logistics, reduced safety risks, and shortened supply chains by sourcing key components from a single site. The project aims to support floating wind deployment tied to Scotland’s ScotWind and INTOG leasing programmes, which together represent 35 gigawatts of offshore wind development potential.
Scotland is currently a global leader in floating offshore wind, with 24.5GW of seabed already leased for development. Gillies added: “Industrialisation, innovation and scale are critical to creating meaningful employment and to driving down the cost of floating offshore wind to parity with fixed offshore wind, if not lower.”
The proposed solution could help accelerate the UK’s energy transition by addressing key logistical and cost barriers associated with scaling up floating wind technology.
