Technip Energies and Partners Develop Reusable Floating Wind Anchors

Technip Energies, in collaboration with Université Gustave Eiffel, Valeco and the OPEN-C Foundation, has launched the PAREF project, a research and development programme aimed at accelerating the industrial development of floating wind turbines.

The project, financed by the French State under the France 2030 programme implemented by ADEME, aims to design, manufacture and test a reusable anchoring system, high and low connectors and tendons for a tensioning line system, while minimising the impact on the marine environment in real sea conditions.

The PAREF project will provide an anchoring system for the NextFloat project.

Let us recall that in 2022 the European Commission selected Technip Energies, X1 Wind and a consortium of 10 international entities to implement the NextFloat project.

The integrated system includes the X1 Wind floating wind technology, featuring a lighter float design with reduced steel requirements, as well as a compact mooring system to minimise impact on the seabed. The 6 MW prototype will be deployed at a test site in the Mediterranean Sea to support the concept in open sea operational conditions.

The NextFloat platform will enable in-situ testing of the PAREF foundation system for at least two years.

“We are thrilled to have been selected for the PAREF project and to play our part in France’s ambition to lead the way in decarbonized and cutting-edge renewable energy technologies, as outlined in the France 2030 plan. This project represents a significant opportunity to promote the development of sustainable energy solutions and support the vision of France’s green industry,” said Jacques Vendé, PAREF project manager at Technip Energies.

In June 2024, the NextFloat+ project received a grant of over $14 million from the European Commission’s Innovation Fund to accelerate the deployment of X1 Wind’s pre-commercial 6 MW floating wind platform.