The construction of the prototype DemoSATH floating offshore wind platform is progressing at the Port of Bilbao in Spain, with the assembly of the precast elements of the foundation’s hull now completed, Saitec Offshore said.
This assembly consisted of lifting, pivoting, and positioning the six precast elements.
DemoSATH prototype consists of two hulls, each having three prefabricated segments. The positioning and pivoting maneuver of these pieces has been carried out using two cranes with capacities of up to 500 tons. The floater positioning results had an error below one centimetre, Saitec said.
The construction and assembly work on the prototype DemoSATH has been led by Ferrovial since November 2020.
Since then, the main milestones of the project included the construction site preparation, intensive campaigns on the dosage of concrete to suit the design requirements, and the completion of the first precast phase, which includes the complete execution of the floats, Saitec said.
The next phase involves the full assembly of the prototype and the execution of the rest of the elements of the platform. At the same time, new precast phases and movements of large components will be done, such as the installation of the tower and the wind turbine.
Saitec Offshore Technologies and RWE Renewables will test SATH floating platform on which a 2MW wind turbine will be mounted.
The base of the structure will be approximately 30 metres wide and 64 metres long. The platform will be towed to its anchorage point in a test field at BiMEP, two miles off the Basque coast, Spain. The water depth at the installation site is around 85 metres.
This project aims to collect data and gain real-life knowledge from the construction procedure, operation, and maintenance of the DemoSATH floating wind platform.