Imagine a giant wind turbine that doesn't need to be bolted to the ocean floor, allowing it to float in deep waters where the wind is stronger. This project creates a special floating base designed specifically for areas where the wind isn't always blasting at full speed. It's like building a stable, floating island for a power plant that can be mass-produced and deployed quickly.
Offshore wind is limited to shallow waters (<50m) because bottom-fixed foundations are too expensive or impossible in deep seas. There is a lack of cost-efficient floating designs for medium-wind speed areas like the Black Sea.
A 5 MW floating offshore wind demonstrator and a disruptive integrative unit design optimized for mass production.
If you are a developer dealing with deep-sea sites where traditional foundations are too expensive — this project developed a 5 MW demonstrator that enables power generation in deep waters. This allows for expansion into the Black Sea region with a target cost of 87€/MWh by 2028.
If you are an energy company dealing with the need to pivot from fossil fuels to clean energy — this project developed a floating wind unit that leverages existing offshore expertise. It provides a pathway to reduce environmental impact by 40%.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with high production costs for offshore platforms — this project developed a disruptive integrative unit design optimized for mass production. This helps move from one-off prototypes to industrial scale deployment.
The project targets a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 87€/MWh by 2028, with a further goal of 50€/MWh beyond 2030.
The project is implementing a 5 MW demonstrator in the Black Sea to prove the design's viability.
Based on available project data, specific IP or licensing terms are not disclosed, though the project aims to pave the way for industrial mass production.
The project aims for an environmental impact reduced by 40%.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2025-04-30, with cost targets set for 2028 and 2030.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, featuring 17 partners across 9 countries. With an industry ratio of 41% (7 industrial partners, including 5 SMEs), the project has a strong bridge between academic research (5 universities, 3 research centers) and market application, specifically targeting the Black Sea region.
Contact FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA for technical specifications.
Contact SciTransfer to connect with the BLOW consortium for licensing the floating unit design.
