BATSO Project launch to Optimize Heavy Mantenance of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine

June 25, 2024  –BW Ideol has launched the BATSO project, funded by ADEME with €2.9 million as part of the France 2030 investment plan. The project aims to develop and validate cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods for replacing major components in offshore wind turbines.

Currently, replacing major components in floating wind turbines requires heavy lifting equipment and towing the turbines to port, resulting in high costs and environmental impact. The BATSO project seeks to reduce costs and environmental footprint by performing these operations directly at sea, making floating wind energy more competitive.

The project will utilize a crane mounted on the nacelle and develop guiding solutions along the tower, inspired by onshore wind energy technology. Partners include BW Ideol, Centrale Nantes, EDF Renewables, and the OPEN-C Foundation, bringing together industry and academic expertise. The project will conduct basin testing, design cable robot system models, and test at the OPEN-C Foundation’s site.

The BATSO project will reduce the environmental impact of floating wind turbines and showcase France’s technological leadership in the field. Successful implementation will strengthen French stakeholders’ position in the floating wind turbine heavy maintenance market. The project’s outcomes will be crucial for establishing a robust floating wind sector in France, with potential deployment in pilot and pre-commercial farms by 2027 and commercial farms by 2030.

“We are delighted to receive support from ADEME for the BATSO project. Addressing the challenges of heavy maintenance for offshore wind turbines is crucial for establishing a robust floating wind sector in France,” said Paul de la Guérivière, co-founder and CEO of BW Ideol.
“Centrale Nantes is very excited to participate in the BATSO project, which brings together the expertise of two laboratories, LS2N and LHEEA, on the theme of offshore wind turbine maintenance,” added Jean-Baptiste Avrillier, Director of Centrale Nantes.

“The selection of the BATSO project by ADEME is excellent news; conducting heavy maintenance operations at sea is a key challenge for the competitiveness of floating wind energy,” said Aymeric Ducrocq, Director of Marine Renewable Energies at EDF Renewables.

“The BATSO project lies at the heart of OPEN-C Foundation’s mission: testing to accelerate innovation!” stated Bertrand Alessandrini, CEO of the OPEN-C Foundation.