Qair, Etermar Forge Iberian Floating Offshore Wind Alliance

December 17, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Etermar Energia and French independent renewable energy company, Qair, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at future offshore wind projects in the Iberian Peninsula.

The document was signed during a visit by Etermar Energia to EolMed, Qair’s 30 MW floating offshore wind project currently under construction in Port-La Nouvelle, France.

The agreement reflects the parties’ shared interest in collaborating on the construction and operation of floating offshore wind farms within the Portuguese Maritime Spatial Planning Plan (PSOEM) zones.

“Collaborating with Etermar Energia aligns with Qair’s multi-local strategy based, which aims to guarantee a local content approach. Offshore wind projects are more than renewable energy projects, they are socioeconomical proposals by themselves, and our goal is to benefit as much as possible the regions where we will be operating,” added Iñigo Viani, General Manager at Qair Renewables Iberica.

The MoU highlights the collaboration between Etermar’s facilities, which provide support for offshore wind development, including component storage, foundation manufacturing, logistics, and operation and maintenance services, and Qair’s knowledge in renewable energy project development, particularly its work with the EolMed project in France and its involvement in Scotland’s ScotWind leasing round.

Qair, in collaboration with its partners DEME and Aspiravi, is developing two wind projects in Scotland: the 1 GW Ayre floating wind farm, planned to be built off the coast of Orkney, and Bowdun, a 1 GW fixed-bottom project off the coast of Aberdeen.

Etermar has over five decades of knowledge in building and installing floating structures, using both steel and concrete. The company has port facilities in Setúbal, Portugal, and it plans to establish a floating foundation manufacturing facility at its premises to serve European and global markets, Qair said.

Portugal has favorable wind speeds and is gearing up for its first offshore wind auction. The Portuguese government has agreed on floating offshore wind as the preferred technology for offshore wind, based on the country’s considerable water depths.