TetraSpar floating wind demonstration project could usher in new era of low-cost floating wind, developers claim
Energy giants Shell and Innogy have teamed up with Stiesdal Offshore Technologies (SOT) to invest in an €18m demonstration project they hope could slash the costs of installing floating wind turbines.
The trio yesterday announced the final investment decision on the TetraSpar floating wind project, firing the starter gun on work to install a turbine with a floating foundation off the Norwegian coast.
The plan is to create a turbine foundation featuring a modular structure, which would be constructed from tubular steel and incorporate a suspended keel. The companies said that because the design can be assembled on land and towed fully constructed out to sea, it should deliver significant cost savings compared to current designs for floating turbines.
Innogy now expects the turbine to enter its testing period by 2020. The firm has a 33 per cent stake in the project, while Shell has increased its share from 33 per cent to 66 per cent and SOT holds the remaining one per cent stake.
"Innogy is seeking offshore growth opportunities worldwide and we are confident that floating wind is going to be an important growth market in the future," said Martin Ferreira, head of offshore investment & asset management at Innogy SE. "This demonstration project lays the foundation for this by giving us a better understanding of both the technical insights and how the cost of floating wind can be driven down."
The offshore wind industry is already experiencing rapid cost reductions as it takes advantage of economies of scale and larger turbines. But experts are increasingly confident floating turbine designs could curb costs still further, by streamlining installation processes, removing the need for heavy foundations, and allowing developers to access deep water areas that boast stronger and more reliable winds.
In related news, Shell announced on Wednesday it is partnering with kite energy company Makani Power, after Google's parent company Alphabet spun the firm out from its 'X' development division.
Alphabet purchased Makani Power in 2013 and the firm has spent the last five years developing and testing its high-altitude wind energy devices. Makani will now operate as an independent business within Alphabet, Makani CEO Fort Felker said in a blog post.
Makani CEO Fort Felker said the firm will focus on working with Shell to deploy its technology in coastal waters around the world.
"Adapting Makani's energy kite technology to offshore environments is an exciting technical challenge, and we'll be drawing on Shell's extensive engineering and operational expertise with floating structures to make this transition," he said. "We plan to kick off testing of this new floating offshore system with demonstrations in Norway later this year, and we're developing additional partnerships to help us bring Makani's commercial system to life."