Ingeteam participates in ReaLCoE, a Senvion-led EU-backed 10MW+ offshore prototype project

Involving the most experienced offshore industry stakeholders, the ReaLCoE project serves a strategic mission to develop the “Next-Generation 10MW+ 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 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 1 May 2018 and for the next three and a half years, the offshore prototype project, led by Senvion, will be funded by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 program. The team includes 15 major stakeholders: Senvion, Ingeteam, Principle Power Portugal LDA, Jan De Nul NV, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Uptime Engineering GmbH, 8.2 Consulting AG, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, Jörss-Blunck-Ordemann GmbH, DNV GL Denmark A/S, BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH, ECN part of TNO, Wood and ABB AB; 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.

ReaLCoE is designed to speed the offshore wind technology to market and directly compete in electricity markets, said Senvion CEO Jürgen Geißinger: “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. 

Javier San Miguel Armendariz, Ingeteam's Global Wind Energy Sales Director added: “Ingeteam expects to showcase wind turbine electrical system optimization opportunities, enabled by a modular and robust power conversion architecture”. 

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.