Kansai Electric Power (Kepco) has announced its involvement in the DemoSATH project, based at the port of Bilbao (Vizcaya). The aim of this pilot project is to commission a barge-type floating wind turbine that is being developed jointly by Saitec Offshore Technologies and RWE Renewables.

This is the first time the Japanese company has participated in a floating offshore wind power generation pilot project. The turbine, which has a capacity of two megawatts, has already been towed out to sea  two miles (around three kilometres) off the coast, and where the Cantabrian Sea is approximately 85 metres deep. It will remain in operation for two years, in order to demonstrate the potential of floating offshore wind energy and, specifically, the advantages of the system developed by the consortium led by Saitec.

Great potential for development
The Kepco group aims to gather knowledge on various types of floating wind turbines with the aim of implementing its own project, an area in which it sees great potential for development in Japan. As a strategic partner and co-investor, the group will bring extensive experience and valuable knowledge to the project, explained Saitec.

As Immanuel Capano, CCO of Saitec Offshore, pointed out, “Our collaboration with Kepco marks a significant milestone for the DemoSATH project. Kepco’s vast experience and considerable resources amplify our capabilities, bringing a new level of expertise to our collective efforts. This partnership doesn’t just symbolise an alliance, but a shared vision of the immense potential of floating wind energy”.

Driving innovation
In statements published by Saitec Offshore on its website, Kepco's Executive Officer and Deputy Director of Renewable Energy Division, Kazumi Ogura, was delighted to be involved in the project, stating, “We will put all our experience to work in contributing to the project’s success, and we are confident that our participation in DemoSATH will allow us to take a major step forward in achieving our goals and vision in the floating offshore wind industry”.

The participation of two energy companies - RWE Offshore (since 2020) and Kepco - will help drive innovation in the field of floating offshore wind. This will at the same time accelerate the commercialisation of SATH technology, the platform designed to generate offshore power and deliver outstanding hydrodynamic performance at a significantly reduced cost.

^{Photo: Saitec Offshore}