The commercialisation of floating offshore wind technology has faced delays, but the sector’s potential remains significant, particularly for countries currently unable to harness this renewable energy source. Enerocean’s W2Power semi-submersible design exemplifies the promise and challenges of this technology. With its innovative dual-turbine setup and low steel mass per MW, W2Power has achieved design certification up to 15MW, a first for floating wind technologies. This milestone, along with ongoing sea testing and R&D, positions W2Power as a mature and competitive option in the emerging floating wind market.
The offshore wind sector has experienced a market correction since 2022, with rising costs, supply chain constraints, and policy headwinds slowing growth. However, floating wind, still an emerging segment, is less directly affected. The cost structure and reduction prospects for floating wind differ from those of bottom-fixed wind, offering potential for lower costs and faster scale-up through serial, modular manufacturing.
Enerocean’s full-size W2Power demonstrator, planned for a commercial port in the Canary Islands, exemplifies the potential for first-of-a-kind floating wind projects. With excellent wind resources and support from port authorities, this project aims to be Europe’s first 10MW+ floating-wind single demonstrator by 2030. The supply chain for floating wind also differs from that of fixed offshore wind, with key features in common with shipbuilding. This could give floating designs with inherently lower costs, such as W2Power, a natural advantage.
The development of floating wind technologies like W2Power could accelerate sooner than today’s market expects. As more floaters reach similar levels of technology certification, the accuracy of assessing their relative cost-efficiency will improve. This will allow site developers and financiers to compare commercial offerings directly, potentially sparking a new wave of innovation and investment in the sector. The case of Enerocean’s W2Power serves as a reminder that, despite current market challenges, the floating wind sector holds significant promise for the future of offshore renewable energy.