ReaLCoE, in cooperation with partners along the value chain of the offshore wind energy sector, anticipates being a front-runner in the development of next generation offshore wind energy converters with double-digit rated electric capacities. The pan-European consortium submitted an application for a Horizon 2020 proposal to the European Commission triggering hundreds of millions of investment into the European clean tech sector
ReaLCoE’s mission is to develop a “Next Generation 10+MW rated, Robust, Reliable and Large Offshore Wind Energy Converters for Clean, Low Cost and Competitive Electricity”. This vision comes to reality through the vertical integration of the value chain, by moving from sequential to modular and parallel development, testing and certification and new forms of collaboration.
Senvion, a pioneer in offshore wind energy, invited Europe’s most experienced offshore industry stakeholders and innovative SMEs to join this truly value adding partnership. During three workshops 150 participants from nine countries prepared the ReaLCoE project in Hamburg during the course of almost one year. Renowned R&D institutes like the ECN and Fraunhofer IWES ensure the uptake of latest technology developments and with EnBW one of Europe’s leading utilities, which has already placed a successful 0-bid in the offshore market, is on board of the consortium.
ReaLCoE’s vision is to unleash the full potential of offshore wind energy to be in direct competition with conventional energy sources in electricity markets worldwide. This will be achieved by innovating and combining multiple disciplines within the offshore sector to leverage on the efficiencies and LCoE reduction potentials in every link of the value chain. Over the course of the project, the consortium anticipates to develop, install, demonstrate, operate and test a technology platform for the first prototype of a double-digit rated capacity turbine in a realistic offshore environment.
Interchangeable components and parallel testing and certification will lead to much faster time to market. Increased operational lifetime and lower service and maintenance requirement will substantially reduce LCoE. This robust, reliable and modular turbine design allows to easily customize the WEC to different markets and client requirements. The successful prototype operation is succeeded by the installation of a pre-series array of 4-6 WEC in a real offshore environment by the end of the project. This is in order to validate the concept and pave the way for modular WEC generations with higher rated capacities.
The contribution of the European Commission would kick off new collaborative partnerships and start the transformation of the offshore wind energy sector towards a truly digital industry sector that delivers CO2 neutral and competitive electricity. In addition it would trigger several hundred million Euros of direct investment into the European clean-tech sector. This ensures that Europe’s offshore wind energy industry continues as a front-runner generating growth and jobs through healthy competition in the global offshore wind turbine market.
You can access the article here: https://www.senvion.com/global/en/newsroom/press-releases/detail/senvion-led-collaboration-project-submitted-for-horizon-2020-funding/
Stay tuned for updates on the next generation of offshore wind energy generation!