EOLINK - Le Croisic

Company Overview

Eolink is a French engineering company based in Plouzané, specializing in the development of innovative floating offshore wind turbines. The company is known for its patented floating foundation technology.

Project Details

• Project Name: France-Atlantique Project
• Location: The turbine will be installed at the SEM-REV test site off the coast of Le Croisic, France.

Turbine Specifications

• Capacity: 5 MW
• Height: The turbine stands at a height of 150 meters.
• Float Size: The floater measures 52 meters on each side.
• Foundation: Eolink's patented pyramidal floating foundation, which is a semi-submersible floating hull with a four-mast pyramidal structure. This design allows the turbine to naturally rotate and face the wind, optimizing performance and distributing stress more efficiently. The structure is 45% lighter than a single mast design and generates 10% additional energy using longer turbine blades.

Installation and Assembly

• Assembly Location: The assembly of the steel float and superstructures of the wind turbine will be carried out on the Marine Renewable Energies polder under the stewardship of BrestPort. The work is set to begin in the spring of 2024, following the delivery of prefabricated steel blocks.
• Anchoring System: The turbine will be secured by a triple anchoring system, with each of the three embedded anchors connected to a submerged buoy by three mooring lines. This system can withstand loads of up to 315 tons.

Partners and Funding

• Collaboration: Eolink is collaborating with around ten companies on the assembly process, including VALOREM and its operation and maintenance subsidiary VALEMO, as well as the OPEN-C Foundation for site management and hosting infrastructure.
• Funding: The project received €14.9 million in funding from the France 2030 programme in 2022, along with further investment from VALOREM and ACCIONA. Additional funding was also provided by the Ocean DEMO project.

Timeline

• Component Arrival: The first components arrived at the Port of Brest on February 20, 2024.
• Assembly and Installation: The assembly is scheduled to start in the spring of 2024, and the turbine is expected to be towed to the test site and commissioned by Spring 2025.

Performance and Impact

• Energy Production: The 5 MW unit is expected to provide enough electricity to power approximately 3,500 homes.
• Technological Advancements: This project is a pre-commercial version of the larger 15 MW+ units Eolink plans to install in the future. The technology aims to address industry issues by optimizing costs and maximizing energy production, especially in low-wind areas.

Future Plans

• Commercial Projects: The successful installation and operation of this demonstrator will pave the way for larger commercial projects, with Eolink aiming to commission commercial-scale floating wind farms by 2028.
• Regional Impact: The project is part of a broader initiative to establish the Port of Brest as a major player in the floating wind industry, supporting regional economic development and energy transition.