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The floating offshore wind project DemoSATH, jointly led by Spanish engineering firm Saitec Offshore Technologies, in partnership with German energy company RWE and Japanese company Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO), starts electricity production.
In August 2023, DemoSATH was deployed offshore at the BiMEP testing site in Armintza, Basque Country. Following this, the successful connection of the static seabed cable to the motion-absorbing dynamic cable and its linkage to the platform’s bow turret was achieved. This milestone facilitates the transfer of generated electricity into the grid through the BiMEP substation, converting wind power into clean, renewable energy.
Situated 2 miles off the Basque coast, the DemoSATH platform hosts a 2 MW turbine, generating power equivalent to the yearly consumption of around 2,000 Spanish households. This pioneering project introduces floating offshore wind technology into Spain’s energy mix, marking a significant step in renewable generation.
The commissioning starts a two-year operational phase dedicated to collecting data on SATH technology’s performance, developed by Saitec Offshore Technologies. It also encompasses monitoring installed platform systems to gauge their interaction with the surrounding ecosystem.
Specialized tools for bird and bat identification, alongside systems tracking marine biodiversity (including crustaceans, other invertebrates, fish, and cetaceans), have been deployed in the local environment. These monitoring efforts will yield insights into group and species behavior around the offshore turbine.
Furthermore, the project will evaluate eco-friendly solutions tailored to SATH, designed to support marine biodiversity and bolster fishing resources in floating offshore wind farms.
The DemoSATH project signifies a notable achievement in the floating offshore wind sector, serving as Spain’s first grid-connected floating offshore wind turbine, the 5th European floating technology with a turbine exceeding 1 MW deployed in open waters, and the 3rd concrete-based technology to attain this level of advancement.
Speaking about the development, David Carrascosa, COO at Saitec Offshore Technologies, said, “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, CEO RWE Offshore Wind:, added, “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 Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc., noted, “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.”
The project’s success can be attributed to a collaborative effort of Saitec Offshore Technologies, serving as both the designer of the SATH technology and project develope, RWE, and KEPCO. Additionally, the contributions from supply chain companies and institutional support from the Spanish Government, including The Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE) and The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), along with support from the Basque Government through The Basque Business Development Agency (SPRI), BEAZ, and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), have played integral roles in this achievement.
