The DemoSATH floating offshore wind turbine has been operational off the Basque coast since September 2023 and is providing first-hand insights into the challenges of operating floating wind turbines on the open sea. Now, Saitec Offshore Technologies and RWE have launched the "DemoSATH Lab" initiative to carry out further environmental monitoring studies around the demonstrator.
The DemoSATH Lab research will study the platform's interactions with the environment, focusing on the possible impact on birds, the emission of underwater noise, and the interactions of marine life with the structure. The programme will last until at least the end of 2025 in order to span multiple seasons and weather conditions.
The DemoSATH platform, located 2 miles off the Basque coast at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) testing area at Armintza, features a turbine with a capacity of 2 MW.
Image credit: Saitec Offshore Technologies
