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Gaelectric partners with Ideol for floating Irish wind farms

By: Tom Russell 13/03/2017 Gaelectric and Ideol

General Windfarms

Irish renewable energy group Gaelectric has partnered with Ideol to develop floating offshore wind energy projects in Irish waters using Ideol’s patented ‘Damping Pool’ technology.

Gaelectric and Ideol are investigating several sites in Irish waters for both short term pre-commercial and long term commercial-scale projects, with an initial objective to develop a turbine array project with 30MW capacity, followed by a multi-GW commercial-scale extension on both Irish coasts.

Ideol's floating foundation using its proprietary ‘Damping Pool®’ technology can withstand open sea conditions and is the only floating sub-structure that can be moored in both shallow and deep waters, the company explained. The foundation can support the 'next generation' of wind turbines and is less invasive on the seabed compared with bottom-fixed foundations.

Commenting, Gaelectric Founding Shareholder, Brendan McGrath, said: “In Ireland, we are blessed with significant reserves of wind energy which are having very tangible impacts in driving energy prices down and improving the sustainability of electricity generation. The development of onshore wind projects is well understood. However, the potential for off shore generation is enormous and holds the prospect of significant benefits for Ireland. Offshore wind speeds are faster and more consistent. We should also be able to deploy larger turbines with the prospect of moving up to 10 MW turbines from the onshore levels which are currently in the region of 2- 3 MW.

The Irish government’s Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan has identified a potential for the generation of 27,000 MW from floating offshore wind in Irish coastal waters. Ideol’s floating foundation technology opens up the prospect of creating an enduring, sustainable indigenous industry along the west coast and provides Ireland with the opportunity to rebalance available job opportunities while creating a significant energy hub in western towns and ports. A fully commercial scale offshore project of 500 MW capacity based on Ideol’s technology has the potential to create up to 2,500 construction jobs with a further 200 in maintenance.”

Ideol’s solution is at the heart of multiple demonstration and pre-commercial floating offshore wind projects in France and Japan, including the Floatgen project currently under construction off the Atlantic coast of France near Saint-Nazaire.

Commenting, Ideol Chief Executive Officer, Paul de la GUERIVIERE, said: “Our industry-transforming Damping Pool technology is perfectly suited to Ireland’s weather and specific sea conditions. It will also use local materials and labour and meet all cost-competitiveness expectations. It can be mass-produced using existing local infrastructure and offers all the advantages one can expect from floating offshore wind solutions such as quay-side wind turbine installation and offshore installation using cost-efficient and readily available vessels.

During the initial phase of our collaboration with Gaelectric we intend to take full advantage of our uniqueability to be installed at depths as shallow as 30m. This 30MW+ project will complement the insights and data we will be accumulating from our French and Japanese demonstration and pre-commercial projects and pave the way for our commercial-scale projects.”

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Gaelectric partners with Ideol for floating Irish wind farms

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