ELISA/ELICAN - Mario Luis Romero Torrent

Project Name

• ELISA/ELICAN - Mario Luis Romero Torrent

Location

• The project is located at PLOCAN’s Test Site, off the coast of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Wind Turbine Details

• The wind farm features a single 5MW offshore wind turbine, provided by Adwen (now part of Siemens Gamesa).

Technology and Innovation

• The project utilizes the ELISA technology developed by ESTEYCO, which involves an integrated self-installing precast concrete telescopic tower and foundation. This technology allows for crane-free offshore installation of the complete substructure and wind turbine, overcoming the need for heavy-lift vessels. It enables full inshore preassembly of the system, facilitating a highly industrialized, low-cost manufacturing process with fast production rates and optimized risk control.

Installation and Timeline

• The design, construction, and assembly of the prototype began in January 2016 at the Arinaga harbour in Gran Canaria. The turbine was successfully installed at PLOCAN’s Test Site in June 2018.

Naming

• The turbine is named in memory of Mario Luis Romero Torrent, a locally renowned engineer from Gran Canaria who was instrumental in the development of the project.

Consortium and Partners

• The ELICAN project is led by ESTEYCO and involves a consortium including SIEMENS-GAMESA, ALE HEAVYLIFT, DEWI GmbH, and PLOCAN. More than 30 companies from the Canary Islands participated in the project, accounting for over 80% of the investment.

Funding

• The project is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

Milestones and Status

• Despite initial delays, the turbine was fully commissioned on March 15, 2019, with a capacity of 5 MW.

Significance

• This is the first marine wind turbine in Spain and the southern part of Europe with a fixed foundation. It is also the world's first marine wind turbine that does not require conventional structures during its installation.

Attendees and Support

• The project presentation was attended by notable figures including the Government Delegate in Canarias, Salvador León, the Regional Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pedro Ortega, the President of the Cabildo (Island Government) of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, and the President of the association Círculo de Empresarios of Gran Canaria, Mario Romero.