An offshore renewable energy test facility in Cornwall, UK, has applied for consent to install and operate a floating wind platform demonstrator designed by US-based company Glosten Associates. Wave Hub has already submitted an application for both a Section 36 electricity consent and a Marine Licence to the UK Marine Management Organisation following the facility’s selection by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) as the preferred location to test the PelaStar tension leg platform (TLP) prototype.
Glosten is developing the PelaStar in partnership with Alstom, using the Haliade 150-6MW offshore wind turbine and the aim of the ETI project is to accelerate the commercial application of floating foundations for wind turbines in order to open up new deep water areas for deployment of wind farms. This in turn could substantially reduce the cost of offshore wind technology.
Wave Hub will operate the demonstrator in one of its four berths over a ten year period and could host the project as early as 2015.
“We have been in discussion with key consultees about the design of this demonstrator over the past few months and our consent application takes on board their requirements” said managing director Claire Gibson. “Today is an important milestone for the project and, if successful, would mean we have all the necessary consents in place for the floating wind demonstrator. The UK Government’s recently published offshore wind strategy recognises the enormous potential of the industry and we are excited at the prospect of Wave Hub playing a part in its development.”
Andrew Scott, ETI’s programme manager for offshore wind, added that the institute’s modelling and engineering design projects have shown that floating offshore wind farms could play a key role in providing affordable and sustainable energy for the UK as part of a broader and balanced energy system.
“Offshore wind must be affordable and cost competitive with alternative generation technologies for it to succeed” Mr Scott said. “That is why we fully endorse Wave Hub’s application for consent to install a floating wind platform demonstrator at the Cornwall-based site.”
ETI and Glosten Associates have also confirmed the appointment of two Cornish companies – Keynvor Morlife Ltd (KML) and LDD – to work on an installation study for the project. Their appointment is part of a £4 million Front End Engineering Study commissioned and funded by the ETI with completion expected by the end of the year. ETI will subsequently decide in the New Year whether to invest up to £21 million in the construction and deployment of the demonstrator project.
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