EOLINK Floater Readying For Sea Trials

The Bretagne-based startup EOLINK has secured funds to install and test a 1/10 scale floating wind turbine prototype off France.

In the first round of funding, EOLINK received EUR 1 million in funding from investors such as Angels Finistere, as well as private investors.

According to EOLINK, the 1/10 scale prototype will be installed nearshore by the end of the year, while the precise location and more key features are to be unveiled soon.

Back in October 2016, EOLINK performed tank testing of a 1:50 scale model of its floating wind turbine, which is said to allow the utilization of +10MW wind turbines and reduction of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 25%.

The tests showed that the turbine is able to withstand very harsh sea states with low mooring lines tensions (Hs>12m) and that it always faces the wind, even in the worst case scenario: 90° misalignment between wind and waves.

The concept involves a set of profiled arms instead of a conventional single tower. Having a turbine mounted on a single tower induces vibrations and bending moment at the base, and with floating application this tower is no longer mandatory, EOLINK said, adding that its concept replaces the single tower by a set of thin and profiled arms, making the structure lighter and stiffer and saving on materials used, which leads to decreasing the LCOE.