The “X30” prototype of the PivotBuoy project with an advanced system for cost-effective mooring, connection, installation and operation of floating wind has successfully completed the load-out operation the last week of April in the Port of Las Palmas “Puerto de la Luz”.
The scale platform is equipped with a V29 Vestas turbine adapted in a downwind configuration and it is in preparation phase to be towed to PLOCAN’s test site in the north-west of Gran Canaria.
The prototype developed through the H2020 program of the European Commission with a 4 million euros budget (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/815159), has been promoted by a consortium of nine European companies from five different countries: X1 Wind, EDP NEW, DNV, INTECSEA, ESM, DEGIMA, WavEC, PLOCAN y DTU.
As the main objective is to reduce de cost of energy (LCOE) of floating wind, the leader company of the project, X1 Wind, has designed an innovative system which reduces structure and mooring costs, and allows a faster and more economic installation.
This “X30” prototype, is a 1:3 scale of the final prototype, and it will be installed at PLOCAN at 50 m deep waters through a single point mooring (SPM) system in a downwind configuration, enabling a “weathervaning” behaviour which maximises use of passive systems.
As part of the plan to reduce costs, the prototype counts on local companies for the installation and maintenance. It was built in parts by DEGIMA in Santander, to be shipped to Gran Canaria and assembled at Hidramar shipyard at the Port of Las Palmas de G.C. After this process, it could be transported to PLOCAN’s test site by tugboat from the port, where it will be proved under real climate conditions.
Once in the water, the device will have to pass an acceptance tests process of all the sub-systems to be ready to installation. Later, it will be connected to a smartgrid in the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) through a dynamic 20 kV cable, in which its electrical behaviour will be analysed.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 815159.