Principle Power Announces Involvement in Next Generation 10MW+ Turbine Project led by Senvion

Involving the most experienced offshore industry stakeholders, the ReaLCoE project, led by German turbine manufacturer Senvion, serves a strategic mission to develop the “Next Generation 10+MW rated, Robust, Reliable and Large Offshore Wind Energy Converters for Clean, Low Cost and Competitive Electricity”.

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 project, awarded €25 million by the European Commission, turns this vision into reality through the vertical integration of the value chain, by moving from sequential to modular and parallel development, testing and certification while engaging in new forms of collaboration. Over the course of the project, the consortium will 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. 

Starting from 1 May 2018 and for the next three and a half years, Senvion will lead the implementation of ReaLCoE, a pan-European R&D project funded by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 program. The team gathered around Senvion includes 14 major stakeholders (8.2 Consulting AG, ABB AB, BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH, DNV GL Denmark A/S, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, ECN part of TNO, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Ingeteam Power Technology SA, Jan De Nul NV, Jörss-Blunck-Ordemann GmbH, Wood, Principle Power Portugal LDA, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Uptime Engineering GmbH) along the complete value chain of the offshore wind energy sector and will become a front-runner in the development of next generation offshore wind turbines with double-digit rated electric capacities, triggering hundreds of millions of investments into the European clean tech sector.

As part of the project, Principle Power will design a WindFloat floating offshore wind foundation capable of hosting this next generation turbine.  “Being a part of this planning from the start lets Principle Power and the consortium drive integration and efficiency into the design process,” said Dominique Roddier, Principle Power’s Chief Technology Officer.  “By also focusing on installation and operations, the project brings us to the forefront of the sector, allowing us to be ready to deploy at large scale competitively.”

Jürgen Geißinger (CEO of Senvion) expects ReaLCoE to result in much quicker times to market and LCoE that will allow offshore wind energy to directly compete in electricity markets. “Increased operational lifetime and lower service and maintenance requirements will substantially reduce LCoE. The robust, reliable and modular turbine design allows to easily customize wind turbines for different markets and client requirements”. The successful prototype operation is succeeded by the installation of a pre-series array in a real offshore environment by 2021, which will validate the concept and pave the way for modular generations of wind turbines with superior rated capacities.

The contribution foreseen by the European Commission inaugurates a new partnership between leading institutions to enable the offshore wind energy sector to become a truly digital industry sector that delivers competitive, CO2 neutral electricity. The project will secure Europe’s front runner position in the offshore wind energy industry generating growth and jobs through healthy competition in the global offshore wind turbine market.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 791875.