RWE-backed SATH technology scores a floating wind first for Spain

A joint venture between Spain’s Saitec Offshore Technologies, German energy giant RWE and Japan’s Kansai Electric Power has started generating electricity from a 2MW pilot of a new floating wind platform in Spanish waters.

Saitec Offshore's SATH technology is based on a concrete platform concept with a plug-and-play single-point mooring that can facilitate disconnection for operations and maintenance work. The weathervane feature can diminish subsea load and make yaw maneouvres easier, according to the developer.

Connection of the existing static seabed cable to the motion-absorbing dynamic cable and the link-up to the platform's bow turret followed the mooring operation, enabling transmission into the Spanish grid through the BiMEP substation, Saitec stated.

“As a result of this project, floating offshore wind technology is being introduced as a new renewable generation technology in Spain's energy mix for the first time,” the company stated.

The commissioning marks the beginning of a two-year operational period to gather data about the behaviour of the SATH technology and systems installed on the platform in the harsh sea environment.

Saitec Offshore Technologies, a spin-off from the Saitec Engineering group, added that specialised tools for the identification of birds and bats have been installed on the pilot platform, as well as systems for monitoring marine ecosystem biodiversity in the surrounding environment.

With the start-up, DemoSATH became the fifth European floating technology with a turbine of over 1MW installed in open sea.

“We are proud of the work accomplished and of being the pioneers in Spain in providing renewable energy with a floating wind turbine. This will be our testing ground to gain knowledge based on real-world experience and apply it in future larger-scale projects," said David Carrosca, chief operations officer at Saitec Offshore Technologies

Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, commented: “We are glad to see that DemoSATH has been successfully commissioned. For us at RWE it is also another milestone on our way to unlock the great potential of floating wind globally, especially in countries with deeper coastal waters, like the US, France, UK, Norway, and – certainly – Spain.

“Jointly with our other demonstration project, DemoSATH enables us to gain early experience for our future commercial-scale developments. Its unique concrete-based platform and single point mooring design further broaden our knowledge on innovative floating wind concepts.”