An international research consortium intends to demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility of floating wind turbines. Scientists and companies from Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, Norway and Belgium are working together on the FLOATGEN project (Demonstration of Two Floating Wind Turbine Systems for Power Generation in Southern European Deep Waters). The Spanish turbine manufacturer Gamesa is responsible for coordinating the partners.
The main objective of the project is to reduce the investment cost of floating wind turbines as well as to make a comparison with similar projects on solid foundation structures. An environmental impact study is also part of the project scope. Prototypes of the multi-MW class will be installed in southern European waters in 2015.
FLOATGEN is being co-financed by the 7th Research Framework Programme of the European Commission. With an application volume of € 36 million and approved funding of over € 19 million thus far for the multinational consortium, it is the largest publicly funded project of the European Commission in the field of offshore wind energy.
Katharina Garus
Photovoltaic Feed