The session has kicked off with several presentations related to the international expansion of the offshore wind power sector and the connection with the Basque value chain by the three driving entities (Siemens Gamesa, Iberdrola and RWE), enabling the positive prospects of this market to be seen, along with numerous internationalisation opportunities for Basque companies. The Basque Energy Cluster has gone through the activities scheduled for the international WindEurope Annual Event Bilbao 2022 with those present. Said conference is a reference in the European sector, and will be held in April 2022. The Cluster has also provided an update on other missions planned to the United States, France and Korea next year.

In the session’s second block, the focus of the recently announced PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) for Renewable Energies, Renewable Hydrogen and Storage has been reviewed, in which marine wind power stands out in the field of renewable energy and represents a special opportunity for Basque industry. Then, Siemens Gamesa has shared its proposals for the EU Next Generation funds and presentations on the progress of three R&D projects of special interest for the sector have been given: WATEREYE (H2020), FLOAT&M (HAZITEK) and NEOMAT (ELKARTEK).

After the conference, the DemoSATH prototype by Saitec Offshore Technologies has been visited. It is the first Spanish floating marine wind turbine connected to the grid. The aim of this project is to compile data and acquire real knowledge of aspects such as its construction, operation and maintenance over a period of three and a half years, devoting the first 18 months to the design and construction and the following two years to its operation.

Saitec Offshore Technologies and RWE Renewables have joined forces to deploy this pilot project that aims to test a marine wind turbine off the Basque coast in 2022, using SATH technology. The prototype, which will be equipped with a 2 MW turbine, will have a beam of 30 metres and length of 64 metres. It will be installed on the BIMEP testing platform, 2 nautical miles off the Basque coast, at a site with a depth of 85 metres. Hybrid lines made up of chains and fibres will be used for its anchoring. The support received from institutions, such as the Basque Energy Agency, the Port of Bilbao and the Basque Government, has facilitated the development of this initiative from the outset, which is also perfectly aligned with the Basque energy strategy.