The PlemCat test site, established for the development of innovative floating offshore wind projects in the LEBA 1 commercial area of the Spanish Mediterranean Sea, has successfully obtained Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval.
From a technical and regulatory standpoint in Spain, receiving a favorable EIA approval from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) confirms that the site has met rigorous environmental standards. This approval, published in Spain’s Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) on July 8, confirms that the PlemCat site and its associated projects have undergone comprehensive planning, ensuring compatibility with environmental protection, preservation of the marine ecosystem, and local biodiversity. The EIA is a critical requirement for advancing any offshore wind project in Spanish waters and to occupy the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain.
This regulatory achievement facilitates the NextFloat Project, which aims to deploy X1 Wind’s X100 8.5 MW platform. The NextFloat Project, spearheaded by Technip Energies and X1 Wind, will introduce X1 Wind’s inaugural commercial-scale platform, leveraging a hybrid technology that merges the stability of a Tension-Leg Platform (TLP) with the cost benefits of semi-submersible structures.
A significant environmental benefit of the TLP mooring system is its considerably reduced seabed impact compared to conventional catenary lines, attributed to its vertical mooring lines. This minimal footprint allows the platform to coexist with critical marine activities, such as commercial fishing and scientific research. Furthermore, utilizing vertically tensioned synthetic mooring lines minimizes seabed dragging and reduces underwater noise, thereby supporting better integration with marine fauna.
The X100 platform, designed for turbines with a 160-meter diameter, features a tripod-shaped architecture that results in a primary steel weight of approximately 1,500 tons. This represents a weight reduction of 30% to 50% compared to conventional steel floaters utilized in similar pre-commercial projects across Europe.
The platform will host a downwind turbine with a 160-meter diameter and 8.5 MW capacity, paving the way for commercialization of the X150 platform, which is designed for turbines greater than 20 MW. Over the coming years, the pilot will operate under offshore conditions, generating crucial data for final prototype certification and enabling the transition to commercial-scale deployment.
This initiative is supported by private investment, along with funding from the EU-backed projects NextFloat and NextFloat+, the PAREF project sponsored by the French State under France 2030 and operated by ADEME, and the RenMarinas program from the Spanish Government.
Jacques Vendé, Project Manager of NextFloat at Technip Energies, commented: “Achieving this environmental approval underscores the collective effort of all partners involved and showcases the minimal environmental footprint of this innovative platform. We are positioned to advance towards the financial closing phase and commercial-scale pilot deployment in the Mediterranean Sea, setting the stage for cost-effective floating offshore wind energy.”
This environmental approval complements the NextFloat Project’s recent technical validation. The X100 platform has received a Statement of Compliance (SoC) for Basic Design from DNV, confirming that the design adheres to stringent international safety, engineering, and technical specifications. With both the DNV certification and the newly acquired EIA, the NextFloat project has secured the necessary technical and environmental clearances for safe offshore deployment.
Alex Raventós, CEO and Co-founder of X1 Wind, stated: “Securing the EIA for the PlemCat site marks a significant milestone for the NextFloat project. Coupled with DNV’s Basic Design Certification, it affirms that our technology is both safe and environmentally responsible, bringing us closer to making floating offshore wind competitively priced on a global scale.”
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