A leading developer of floating offshore wind platforms has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Tugdock, pioneers behind the Tugdock Submersible Platform, in a move towards sustainable energy solutions.
Based in Cornwall, UK, Gazelle Wind Power is poised to become the benchmark for the floating offshore wind industry with its next-generation platform. Gazelle Wind Power's platform incorporates a revolutionary patented dynamic mooring system, eliminating pitch and balance movement in response to external forces.
“This exciting partnership is an industry-first, representing the power of collaboration to unleash the full potential of innovation,” said Lucas Lowe-Houghton, Chief Revenue Officer at Tugdock, in a statement, adding that the collaboration would “unlock great opportunities for both partners as well as help to accelerate the floating offshore wind industry.”
The Tugdock Submersible PLatform comes in a range of deck sizes up to 120m x 120m and a total lift capacity of up to 35,000 tonnes and can lift vessels and other floating structures at a fraction of the cost compared to typical dry docks.
This strategic partnership between Gazelle and Tugdock aims to co-develop a modular offshore wind assembly system that promises to significantly reduce costs and enhance the production efficiency of floating offshore wind farms.
Modularity to scale affordably.
Gazelle's platform boasts a modular design that allows scalable and adaptable configurations, making it an affordable and accessible solution for deep water deployment. Currently engaging with multiple developers, Gazelle aims to secure over 5GW of projects for delivery before 2035. The modularity of Gazelle's components enables cost-effective fabrication in shipyards, with assembly at a nearby port, streamlining the construction process.
On the other end of the partnership, Tugdock’s patented Submersible Platform supports the deployment of commercial-scale floating wind by overcoming port constraints. Combining a steel frame and patented airlift bags, it serves as both an assembly fixture and a launch method, accelerating platform assembly and ensuring a safe and cost-effective deployment.
“Working with Tugdock, we have the ideal way to assemble our modular platform, using minimal space,” commented Jon Salazar, CEO of Gazelle Wind Power. “While the Gazelle platform possesses a naturally low draft, there are significant benefits to assembling the modules on the Tugdock platform, which doubles as the assembly fixture and launch method, speeding up platform assembly and getting our platform into the water in a safe, and cost-effective way.”
“Our vision is to be the benchmark for Floating Offshore Platforms across global markets and make a significant contribution to net-zero goals,” he added.
Italy’s largest offshore wind farm.
The initial venture for this powerful collaboration is Italy's largest offshore wind farm, the Molise Offshore Wind Farm project in the Adriatic Sea. With the combined technologies of Gazelle and Tugdock, this project aims to install 70 turbines, generating an impressive 1.05 GW of power, while expediting platform assembly and keeping costs low.
The Molise Offshore Wind Farm project, managed by Maverick Srl and controlled by Green Bridge, recently underwent modifications to the project’s layout to provide direct access to the port of Termoli, catering to the needs of the local fishing community. With an expected average annual productivity of 2,673,300 MWh, the wind farm is poised to make a substantial contribution to emissions reduction, preventing the release of millions of tonnes of CO2, SO2, and NOx into the atmosphere over its 30-year lifespan.
Shane Carr, CEO of Tugdock, expressed his excitement, stating that the partnership “combines the advantages of two innovative modular technologies that complement each other perfectly.”
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article