Eolmed Floating Wind Farm Starts Taking Shape in Mediterranean Sea

Photo source: oedigital.com

Bourbon Subsea Services has successfully installed a Floating Electrical Hub (FEH)[1] at the Eolmed floating offshore wind farm in southern France, marking the completion of the initial phase of the 30 MW project. The FEH, connected to three 10 MW-rated Vestas wind turbines, is expected to generate over 110 million kWh/year by 2025, meeting the energy needs of 50,000 residents.

The installation, conducted over 2 months, utilized the Bourbon Liberty 222, an Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel equipped with Bourbon remotely operated vehicles. The Eolmed project, led by Qair, TotalEnergies, and BW Ideol, represents a significant development in the Mediterranean's floating wind farm landscape.

Stephan Midenet, CEO of Bourbon Subsea Services, said: “The project demonstrates our ability to provide our energy clients with turnkey services mobilizing all the skills and assets of the group in EPCI[2] mode, from the engineering phase to offshore installation. We are now focused on preparing the second stage of this project in which Bourbon will install the field’s 3 wind turbines, in 2025, and connect them to the electricity grid.”

In mid-2023, subsea cable maker JDR Cable Systems has secured a contract for the delivery, testing, and termination of 66kV dynamic inter-array cables for the Eolmed project. These cables, designed and manufactured by JDR, will facilitate the connection between the floating wind turbines and the Eolmed FEH. The final assembly and testing will take place in the UK, with Bourbon Offshore Gaïa handling the transportation and installation.

Note:
[1] The FEH is a floating infrastructure that will be connected to the three wind turbines on one side and the shore connection cable on the other, enabling the transportation of electricity to the power grid.
[2] Établissement public de coopération intercommunale (EPCI): Founded on the basis of municipalities, it is a public legal entity in France dedicated to coordinating collaboration and development across different domains among towns.

Reference: oedigital.com