Saitec Offshore Technologies and the open sea test site Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) have signed a contract to install DemoSATH project off the Basque Coast.

The project will use SATH Technology to test the very first floating wind foundation connected to the Spanish grid. Operations are planned for late 2021. When linked to the grid DemoSATH is projected to supply nearly 2.000 homes with electricity.

The structure, which will be about 30 meters wide and about 67 meters long, will be assembled in the port of Bilbao with a 2 MW wind turbine. It will be towed from there to its anchorage point in BiMEP, 2 miles off the coast where the sea is about 85 meters deep.

“This real-scale demonstrator is a massive step for us. A major milestone that could be considered as one of the most challenging gates to go through in order to achieve commercialization. As if this was not enough, we have the chance to develop this project in our homeland using BiMEP testing area. Basque Country has a very active industry on the offshore wind sector, and we think that this project could become the spearhead for Basque floating wind sector.”
Luis González-Pinto, COO of Saitec Offshore Technologies.

“DemoSATH Project will not only focus on technological validation, it will also prove the local content potential of SATH’s manufacturing as a result of the combination of both civil construction and offshore supply chains. We estimate that at least 70% of the contracting budget will be awarded to local industry.”
David Carrascosa, CTO of Saitec Offshore Technologies.

The main objective of the project is to analyze its behavior under real operational and extreme conditions, gather data and acquire real-life knowledge from the unit’s construction, operation and maintenance. The pilot project will last 3 and a half years: 18 months for planning and constructing the facility, followed by a two-year operating period.