Saitec Offshore Technologies reaffirms its commitment to the development of floating offshore wind in Iberia, focusing on the upcoming auctions in Spain and Portugal as a key pillar for expanding its operations in the region.

The company states that its participation in these auctions will not only strengthen its position in the market but also be crucial for consolidating the sector in Iberia and laying the foundation for sustained growth in offshore renewable energy.

“We intend to participate in the auctions in both countries, and for this, we are working on forming a consortium with both economic and technical capacity,” highlights David Carrascosa, Operations Director.

In an interview with Energía Estratégica España, the executive points out that in Spain, significant progress is being made, driven by several pilot projects and technological developments aimed at reducing both investment costs (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX).

“A relevant fact is that, of the 51 floating technological solutions identified globally by the end of 2022, 15 are being developed or led by Spanish agents, as recently stated by Juan Ramón Ayuso, head of the Department of Wind and Marine Energies at the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), which demonstrates technological development and the search for improvements in these platforms, both technologically and economically,” he shares.

Iberian Challenges

There is still much to be done in Iberia regarding offshore wind, but governments have shown support and commitment to the sector with ambitious targets (3 GW in Spain and 10 GW in Portugal by 2030).

Both countries have demonstration projects underway from the company (DemoSATH in Spain and WindFloat Atlantic in Portugal), but, as they state: “It is still necessary to clarify what the regulatory frameworks will be, including the permitting processes, income support, and infrastructure requirements.”

For Saitec, there is still a long way to go in Europe, with the priority goal being to position itself near Norway or the UK, regions currently leading the floating offshore wind industry.

“Our ambitions are global, and we are active in most markets promoting this technology: France, UK, Ireland, Norway, US, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, etc.,” concludes Carrascosa.

Saitec’s goal is to commercialize the SATH technology and seek local partners that can guarantee the competitive manufacturing capacity of platforms.

Ongoing Projects

Saitec Offshore Technologies leads the development of floating offshore wind projects in Iberia, with pioneering initiatives like DemoSATH, Medfloat, and GEROA standing out in the region.

The first is a floating concrete platform, implemented in real marine environments to test its efficiency, optimize the design, and reduce costs.

It has received the final certification from Bureau Veritas, which guarantees its safety, structural integrity, and operational viability, thus solidifying Saitec as a leader in cost-effective solutions for the offshore wind sector.

In addition to DemoSATH, the pre-commercial projects Medfloat and GEROA, each with a capacity of 50 MW, are serving as key testing grounds for the future deployment of large-scale parks. These do not require auctions, allowing for swift and agile execution.

At the same time, the company continues to expand its infrastructure in Iberia, with the development of a platform manufacturing plant in the Port of A Coruña, which will supply the European market.

Additionally, it incorporates advanced digitalization and remote monitoring technologies that optimize the maintenance of these platforms, reducing operational costs and increasing efficiency offshore.