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Simply Blue Energy and Total forge floating alliance

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 19/03/2020 Simply Blue Energy
Simply Blue Energy, a Celtic Sea energy developer, and Total, a French multinational oil company, have established a partnership to develop floating wind projects in the Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea.

The first development will be Erebus, a 96MW demonstration project at water depths of 70m, for which an application has already been submitted to the Crown Estate. Total agreed to acquire an 80% stake in the floating wind project with Simply Blue holding the remainder.

The intention of Erebus is that the project will be developed to use Principle Power’s Windfloat technology. WindFloat is a semisubmersible floating foundation with "water entrapment plates" fitted onto the bottom of the three pillars and a static and dynamic ballast system to enable stability.

Sam Roch-Perks, Managing Director of Simply Blue Energy said, “We are delighted to have signed the agreement with Total.  Together we will progress the first stepping-stone projects that will allow the local supply chain to build up their capabilities to help deliver the larger projects that will be developed for the 2030s.  It is like being in Aberdeen in the 1960s except from Pembroke we look out onto a sea that can deliver wind energy, helping the UK reach its 2050 Net-Zero target”.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman & CEO of Total said, “With its entry into floating offshore wind, Total confirms its ambition to contribute to the development of renewable energy worldwide. Floating offshore wind is an extremely promising and technical segment where Total brings its extensive expertise in offshore operations & maintenance. Total has the appropriate skills to meet the technological and financial requirements that determine the success of future floating offshore developments”.

Simply Blue Energy has established an office in Pembroke to work with the local supply chain on the opportunities created by this project. Pembroke Dock Marine is a £60M project that will create terrestrial and marine assets combined with research, development and innovation support to establish a centre for marine engineering. Located on the Milford Haven Waterway on Wales’ energy-rich west coast, Pembroke Dock Marine’s immediate focus will be on delivering solutions for the low carbon energy industry. It is being delivered by ORE Catapult, Marine Energy Wales, the Port of Milford Haven and Wave Hub Limited, and is due to be part-funded by the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal.

Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said: “I’m very pleased to be able to welcome this announcement by Total and Simply Blue Energy – and am very happy to be able to welcome Total’s new investment to Wales, as they look to take part in this potentially far-reaching partnership within the floating offshore wind sector.

“The Erebus project represents not only a huge step towards our ambitious climate goals here in Wales, as we look to tackle the impact of climate change, but will also represent a huge low-carbon inward investment into Wales, as we move towards a stronger green economy and provide new supply chain opportunities to businesses within the Region. Projects such as these will form the backbone of a prosperous low carbon economy, and will be powered by Welsh ingenuity and innovation.”

“I’m also pleased to note that the Erebus project will see strong connections with the Pembroke Dock Marine (PDM) project – which will see £60m in investment brought to south-west Wales and help boost the capacities and capabilities of Welsh companies in the marine and green energy sectors.”


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