Entrion Wind has been awarded a project to evaluate the feasibility of its patent-pending fully restrained platform (FRP) offshore wind foundation technology by a ScotWind developer.
Under the agreement, Entrion will assess the technical and economic feasibility of the FRP foundation technology, extending the monopile and its established supply chain and favourable economics up to 100-metre water depth, at one of the ScotWind lease areas.
The FRP foundation technology represents a new and cutting-edge innovative technology that may extend the operating depth and favourable economics of the monopile from 50 – 100 meters”, said Karl Davis , CEO of Empire Engineering.
The project will incorporate engineering, fabrication, and installation expertise from Entrion Wind’s partners including Empire Engineering, Acteon through InterMoor, and EEW Group to provide a robust foundation concept while maximising local content, the company said.
“Entrion Wind is very pleased for this opportunity to demonstrate the technological feasibility of the FRP monopile in close cooperation with a major developer enabling and building a business case for a one foundation technology scenario and comparing the FRP technology to both bottom fixed and floating solutions in terms of water depth, costs, supply chain constraints”, said Bjørnar Eide , CFO of Entrion Wind.
Subject to completion of the feasibility study and technical findings, the developer may enter into other contractual arrangements and could engage Entrion Wind to conduct concept and feed studies as well as cooperate on a demonstration project to prepare for the deployment of the FRP technology.
In January 2022, Crown Estate Scotland selected 17 offshore wind projects in its ScotWind seabed leasing round, which had a total capacity of almost 25 GW.
A few months later, Crown Estate Scotland added three more floating offshore wind projects which focus on green hydrogen, according to the Scottish seabed manager.
At the end of last year, the developers signed seabed option agreements making their projects ready to move into the development stage.