Gazelle Wind Power (Gazelle), the developer of a next-generation floating offshore wind platform, and Tugdock, developers of the world’s first road-transportable floating dry dock known as the Tugdock Submersible Platform, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-develop a modular offshore wind assembly system, that is expected to dramatically drive down costs and increase production of floating offshore wind farms.
The design of Gazelle Wind Power’s platform includes a revolutionary patented dynamic mooring system that eliminates pitch and balance movement in response to the external forces of wind, waves, and tide. The platform's modular design allows for scalable and adaptable configurations, making it a more affordable and accessible solution for deep water deployment. Gazelle Wind Power is currently in discussions with a number of developers with the potential to secure in excess of 5GW of projects for delivery before 2035.
The modularity of Gazelle’s components enables the offshore wind platform modules to be fabricated cost-effectively in shipyards and then transported to an assembly port, adjacent to a wind farm to be completed. The Tugdock Submersible Platform is a patented technology that supports the deployment of commercial-scale floating wind by providing a build and launch platform that overcomes port constraints. The structure combines a steel frame and patented airlift bags to act as additional buoyancy or as a submersible platform for lifting or launching heavy marine structures.
The first project for the new partnership will be Italy’s largest offshore wind farm, the Molise Offshore Wind Farm project in the Adriatic Sea, where the combined technologies will help install 70 turbines, aiming to generate 1.05 GW of power. The Molise Offshore Wind Farm will cover a total area of 219 square kilometres, and the turbines will be located in waters spanning depths of a minimum of 88 metres to a maximum of 126 metres. The first platform is planned to be launched in January 2028.
Gazelle Wind Power Limited is accelerating the commercialisation of the floating offshore wind market with its next generation platform. Gazelle’s solution is poised to become the benchmark for the industry with a design that is targeted to lower costs, enable local content, utilise preexisting port infrastructure, and incorporate shipbuilding construction with modular assembly. The floating platform offers high stability and easy transport, installation, and maintenance while preserving fragile marine environments. The company is based in Dublin and has a presence in Dubai, London, Madrid, Porto, and the U.S.
Tugdock is a company based in Cornwall, UK. Its patented marine buoyancy technology enables heavy marine structures to be built or assembled and loaded-out in ports with water depth or space restrictions. Their technology comprises the Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP) and Tugdock Buoyancy Modules (TBMs). The technology is modular, road transportable, easy to erect, and reusable.
The TSP comes in a range of deck sizes from 12m x 12m up to 120m x 120m with a total lift capacity up to 35,000 tonnes and is able to lift vessels and other floating structures clear of the water at a fraction of the cost of standard dry docks.
TBMs provide a means of additional buoyancy for draft reduction and to provide stability for Wind Turbine Generator integration. The buoyancy modules can be considered as temporary works equipment that is fixed to the floaters in modules and used during berthing, integration, marshalling, and removed prior to tow-out. The product can be re-installed for wet storage or for in-port operations and maintenance activities.
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The Molise Offshore Wind Farm project, managed by Maverick Srl and controlled by Green Bridge, involves the installation of 70 wind turbines with a total capacity of 1.05 GW, located in the Adriatic Sea, off the Molise coast, Italy. This is Italy's largest offshore project in terms of installed capacity. The project features cutting-edge Vestas V236-15.0 MW turbines, known for their advanced capabilities and operational efficiency.
One key recent revision to the project is the use of floating platforms for offshore electrical stations, significantly reducing the environmental impact. Additionally, modifications to the project's layout now provide direct access to the port of Termoli, addressing the needs of the local fishing community.
The 'Molise Offshore Wind Farm' is expected to produce an average annual productivity of 2,673,300 MWh, making a substantial contribution to emissions reduction. Over the plant's 30-year lifespan, it is estimated to prevent the release of 35,163,170 tonnes of CO2, 10,430 tonnes of SO2, and 5,110 tonnes of NOx into the atmosphere.
This ambitious project represents a total investment of 2.1 billion euros.