Saitec Offshore Technologies has initiated a new collaboration with the Japanese company Kumagai Gumi in the DemoSATH project. This project, known as a floating wind prototype, is entering a new phase in research, innovation, and knowledge production to advance the development of floating wind energy.
Extension of the DemoSATH Prototype's Lifespan
The cooperation agreement signed between Saitec Offshore Technologies, Kansai Electric Power Company, and Kumagai Gumi will help extend the operations of the DemoSATH prototype at the BiMEP marine testing site (Armintza, Biscay, Spain) until 2027. During this period, the focus will be on research activities, optimization, and knowledge transfer.
Transformation from Technology Demonstrator to Research Platform
DemoSATH includes a 2-megawatt wind turbine installed on a concrete twin-hull floating structure, located approximately 3.2 kilometers off the Basque coast at a depth of about 85 meters. Over the past three years, this project has validated the installation, operation, and electricity production of SATH technology under real marine conditions and has also collected data on its structural, dynamic, and operational behavior.
Since its inception, this floating wind turbine has faced the harsh conditions of the Cantabrian Sea and has been able to withstand waves up to 13 meters high and winds of 100 kilometers per hour. The monitoring systems in place at DemoSATH have enabled the collection of operational data under real conditions, allowing its behavior to be compared with models developed during the design phase.
With the technical capabilities of SATH technology proven, this project is gradually transforming into a full-scale research and testing platform, aimed at transferring the lessons learned to future large-scale commercial projects in international markets.
New Research and Testing Areas in Floating Offshore Wind Energy
Research activities at DemoSATH cover a wide range of topics related to floating offshore wind energy, including optimal monitoring of key system components, data analysis and predictive modeling, and identifying the response of floating wind systems under various marine conditions. This research will contribute to a better understanding of floating wind technology and will support the development, design, and optimization of future large-scale commercial projects.
