The Spanish start-up X1 Wind, supported by EIT InnoEnergy, has just received their first patent for the PivotBuoy technology.
The patent protects the design of the PivotBuoy, an innovative mooring system which is the most differential feature of our solution, which contains a single point mooring that allows passive orientation with a TLP type system (prestressed cables) that allows greater stability as well as reduction of the impact on the seabed.
The company addresses a need in the Offshore wind industry by working in shallow water sites (<30-40m depth). Projects need to move to deeper waters, but current floating designs are too heavy and expensive to be competitive. X1 Wind has then redesigned floating wind platforms to cut 80% the weight and 50% the costs while expanding the operation depth range in comparison to other floating solutions. The platform is specifically designed to reduce installation, operation and maintenance costs, with the potential to achieve a cost of energy of 50€/MWh. It has less active systems than current designs and can be fully assembled at the port and installed using a small tug boat.
Lower structural costs of platform and installation, less active systems and easier maintenance, as well as improved scalability (downwind turbine allows larger rotors), are some of the characteristics of this innovation.