- The company has successfully precast the reinforced concrete components of the DemoSATH platform’s hull.
- Ferrovial raised, turned and positioned the segments for final assembly.
- Saitec plans to install the prototype in the test area off the coast of Spain’s Vizcaya region in the third quarter of 2022.
Ferrovial is moving forward with the construction of a floating prestressed concrete platform to be installed two miles off the coast of Vizcaya, in the Spanish Basque Country, the first project of this type to be undertaken by the company.
The latest milestone in construction was lifting and positioning the six segments that make up the floats in order to commence the assembly phase of the full prototype. The process of placing and turning the components was conducted with two cranes each capable of lifting over 500 tons, which lifted the components 14 meters into the air and then carried them 150 meters to place them in their final location with an error of less than 1 centimeter, one of the main feats of the operation.
During the next stage, Ferrovial will complete assembly of the full prototype and then produce the other elements that make up the platform. This will entail further production and movement of large prestressed components, such as the installation of the tower and turbine.
Construction of DemoSATH commenced in November 2020. Milestones achieved since then include preparing the dock area for the construction work, intensive work to obtain the right concrete mix to meet the design specifications, and production of the first phase of prestressed components, including the entire floats.
The contract is part of the DemoSATH pilot project, headed by Saitec as EPCI contractor in partnership with RWE Renewables, the goal being to test affordable new means of installing and operating offshore wind farms in deepwater locations. SATH technology consists of twin hulls made of modular precast concrete components that are subsequently braced. The floating platform swings around a single tether point depending on the direction of the wind and waves. The goal of the project is to compile data and obtain real-world knowledge about the construction, operation and maintenance of the unit.
Once the project is complete, it will become Spain’s first grid-connected multi-megawatt floating offshore wind turbine. It will generate enough electricity to power 2,000 homes and will avoid the emission of 5,200 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. This initiative enhances Ferrovial’s commitment to sustainability, which has made it an industry leader in this dimension.
