In a significant development for Spain's renewable energy landscape, the DemoSATH floating offshore wind project has commenced electricity generation. Spearheaded by Spanish engineering firm Saitec Offshore Technologies, in partnership with German energy company RWE Offshore Wind and Japanese firm The Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO), this project marks the introduction of floating offshore wind technology to Spain's energy mix.
The project achieved a crucial milestone in August when the DemoSATH platform was successfully installed offshore at the BiMEP testing area in Armintza, located in the Basque Country. Following this installation, the connection of the static seabed cable to the motion-absorbing dynamic cable and its link to the platform's bow turret were completed. This essential step enables the transmission of electricity generated by the wind into the electrical grid through the BiMEP substation, thereby harnessing wind power as a clean and renewable energy source.
The DemoSATH platform, situated two miles off the Basque coast, features a turbine capable of generating up to 2 megawatts (MW) of energy. With an annual production equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 2,000 Spanish households, this project represents a substantial contribution to Spain's renewable energy capacity.
The commissioning of DemoSATH signifies the commencement of a two-year operational phase dedicated to gathering data on the behavior of the SATH (Swinging Around Twin Hull) technology developed by Saitec. This period will also involve monitoring the systems installed on the platform to better understand their interaction with the surrounding marine ecosystem.
As part of the environmental monitoring efforts, specialized tools for bird and bat identification have been incorporated into the platform's design. Additionally, systems for tracking marine ecosystem biodiversity have been deployed to ensure the project's minimal impact on the environment.
David Carrascosa, Chief Operations Officer at Saitec, expressed his satisfaction with the project's progress, stating, “The start of energy generation from DemoSATH marks a culmination in the project. We are proud of the work accomplished and of being the pioneers in Spain in providing renewable energy with a floating wind turbine. This will be our testing ground to gain knowledge based on real-world experience and apply it in future larger-scale projects.”
Sven Utermöhlen, Chief Executive of RWE Offshore Wind, emphasized the project's significance for the global floating wind industry, saying, “We are glad to see that DemoSATH has been successfully commissioned. For us at RWE, it is also another milestone on our way to unlock the great potential of floating wind globally, especially in countries with deeper coastal waters, like the US, France, UK, Norway, and – certainly – Spain. Our ambition is to be a market-leading floating wind player who safely develops, builds, and operates cost-competitive, commercial-scale floating wind projects around the world. Jointly with our other demonstration project, DemoSATH enables us to gain early experience for our future commercial-scale developments. Its unique concrete-based platform and single-point mooring design further broadens our knowledge on innovative floating wind concepts.”
Kazumi Ogura, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Division at KEPCO, also expressed appreciation for the project's milestone, stating, “It is a great honor to reach this significant milestone as a member of the pioneering project. We would like to express our profound gratitude to the local community and numerous stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding. We are looking forward to applying the lessons learned from this project towards the advancement of a zero-carbon society.”
