BW Ideol’s 2 MW Floatgen floating wind turbine has been operational for eight years at the SEM-REV offshore test site near Le Croisic, France, with total electricity generation surpassing 40 GWh.
Since its installation on BW Ideol’s concrete Damping Pool floating foundation in 2018, the turbine has achieved an average technical availability exceeding 92%, according to the company. Its monthly capacity factor hit 61.96% in December 2023.
Floatgen continues operation beyond the initial five-year demonstration. In 2024, BW Ideol extended its operation for another five years, following assessments indicating the floating foundation and turbine could remain offshore without major maintenance.
The extension supports further research, including the Velella project, aimed at optimizing the floater’s economic and environmental performance through a life cycle assessment. Additionally, the Piaff & Co project seeks data on species interactions with the turbine.
During its offshore service, the turbine has faced severe weather, such as Storm Ciaran, with a maximum wave height of 12.9 meters. BW Ideol reported no production impact from the floater’s movements.
The project has set a benchmark for local manufacturing in floating wind. The foundation was constructed at Saint-Nazaire harbor, approximately 40 kilometers from the site, creating 70 direct jobs during construction. Mooring lines were manufactured in Brittany by LeBéon Manufacturing, with about EUR 20 million spent with French suppliers.
Floatgen’s foundation utilizes BW Ideol’s Damping Pool concept, which includes a central moon-pool arrangement to enhance hydrodynamic behavior and stability.
BW Ideol has also advanced the Damping Pool technology for larger commercial floating wind applications, developing standardized foundation concepts for serial production.
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