Floatgen Demonstrato

Project Overview

• The Floatgen Demonstrator is France's first offshore wind turbine and the first 100% European floating offshore wind turbine.
• It is part of the SEM-REV (Sea Energy Monitoring, Research, and Validation) test site, operated by the Ecole Centrale de Nantes.

Location and Installation

• The turbine is installed approximately 20 km off the coast of Le Croisic, in the Atlantic Ocean, at a water depth of 33 meters.
• The construction of the floating foundation took place at the port of Saint-Nazaire, with the inauguration and baptism occurring on October 13, 2017. The turbine was towed and installed at the site, and connected to the power grid in mid-2018.

Technology and Design

• The project features a 2 MW Vestas V80 wind turbine mounted on a floating foundation developed by BW Ideol (formerly Ideol).
• The floating foundation is a patented Damping Pool® technology, which is a ring-shaped, concrete platform open in its center. This design provides optimum stability at a lower cost and allows for construction close to the deployment site, enhancing local content.
• The foundation measures 36 meters on each side and has a draught of 7.5 meters. It is equipped with six synthetic fiber (nylon) mooring lines, a world first for a permanent mooring system of this size.

Operational Details

• The Floatgen Demonstrator has been in operation since 2018 and has exceeded expectations. It has produced a total of 30 GWh of electricity as of January 2024, with a record production of 6.8 GWh in 2020 and a monthly record of 922.026 MWh in December 2023.
• The turbine has achieved a capacity factor record of over 66% in February 2020 and has maintained an average availability of 92.18% between January 2021 and January 2024.

Environmental and Social Impact

• The project has significant local benefits, including the creation of local jobs and the use of local suppliers for most components and logistical activities. The mooring system, for example, was manufactured by LeBéon Manufacturing in Brittany.
• An environmental report published by Centrale Nantes in 2021 covers various fields such as underwater acoustics, electromagnetic fields, temperature, and the impact on marine mammals, benthic communities, and avifauna during the installation and operation phases.

Future Perspectives and Integration

• The Floatgen Demonstrator serves as a showcase model for future export and has provided invaluable experience in construction methods, deployment, and operation. Its success has paved the way for commercial-scale deployment of floating wind turbines.
• The turbine is also part of a broader initiative to integrate offshore renewable energy with other technologies. For instance, it will power the Sealhyfe platform, a pilot project for offshore green hydrogen production, once the platform is relocated to the SEM-REV test site.

Partners and Funding

• The project is supported by the European Union as part of the FP7 programme and involves a consortium of seven partners, including BW Ideol, Centrale Nantes, and Bouygues Travaux Publics.

The Floatgen Demonstrator is a landmark project in the development of floating offshore wind technology, showcasing innovation, local economic benefits, and environmental sustainability.