Offshore wind turbine maker MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has been selected by Qair as the preferred wind turbine supplier for the EolMed floating project in the Mediterranean Sea, to be located about 18 km off the coast of Gruissan in the Aude region, offshore France.
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind supply three V164-10.0 MW turbines. The turbines will be installed on Ideol’s foundation.
"The project will contribute to the unique V164 cumulative experience, as the floating offshore wind industry sets its sights on commercial-scale developments in the coming decade," MHI Vestas said.
The company said this would be the second floating project in which the V164 nominal capacity is brought to 10 MW.
"With more than 160 MW of V164 planned for floating operations, MHI Vestas looks forward to further accelerating the reduction in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of floating offshore wind," the company said,.
“In signing with our partner Qair, MHI Vestas confirms its commitment and leadership in floating offshore wind to the surging French floating market,” said MHI Vestas CEO, Philippe Kavafyan.
"The EolMed project adds a significant building block as we will deploy our V164-10.0 MW turbine atop Ideol’s floating barge foundation. This collaboration with Qair and Ideol will undoubtedly help accelerate the floating sector from demonstration to commercial-scale projects.”
Louis Blanchard, CEO of Qair, added: “MHI Vestas is an undisputed leader in the offshore wind industry, and we are happy that they join us now to work for the EolMed project. At Qair, as a producer of energy from renewable sources, we are committed to accelerate the global energy transition. We have no doubt that having MHI Vestas as a preferred wind turbine supplier for EolMed will help to bring this exciting and ambitious project to life.”
MHI Vestas said that the combination of Ideol’s patented Damping Pool foundation and MHI Vestas’ V164-10.0 MW turbine can potentially enable a quicker route to market for floating wind projects in Europe and Asia.
EolMed is scheduled for installation in 2023.