A project to install a prototype floating wind turbine in UK waters has taken a step forward with the submission of applications for consent to install and operate the demonstrator.
Wave Hub - an offshore marine energy test facility in south-west England - has applied for Section 36 electricity consent and a marine license for the 6 MW unit and says that it could be on-line by 2015.
The project is part of a drive by the UK's Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to develop floating offshore wind turbine technology. The ETI in March selected Cornwall-based Wave Hub as the preferred location for testing a floating offshore wind platform.
Wave Hub's proposed project will use a PelaStar tension leg platform designed by US-based naval architecture firm Glosten Associates and an Alstom 150-6MW offshore wind turbine.
Wave Hub managing director Claire Gibson said: "We have been in discussion with key consultees about the design of this demonstrator over the past few months and our consent application takes on board their requirements. Today is an important milestone for the project and, if successful, would mean we have all the necessary consents in place for the floating wind demonstrator."
According to the ETI, the use of floating offshore wind turbines would open up new deep water areas for development as well as reduce the cost of offshore wind energy. Andrew Scott, programme manager for offshore wind at the ETI, said: "Our modeling and engineering design projects have shown that floating offshore wind farms could play a key role in providing affordable, secure and sustainable energy for the UK as part of a broader and balanced energy system.
"However, offshore wind must be affordable and cost competitive with alternative generation technologies for it to succeed.
In June this year the ETI and Glosten Associates confirmed the appointment of two Cornish companies - marine contractor and vessel owner Keynvor MorLift Ltd (KML) and offshore drilling specialists LDD - to work on an installation study for the pioneering project.
The two companies have been appointed as part of a £4 million Front End Engineering Study commissioned and funded by the ETI which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The ETI will then decide in the new year whether to invest up to £21m in the construction and deployment of the demonstrator project.
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