In a new development for offshore wind, the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has announced plans to test the first ever floating wind farm off the Cornish coast. If the trial goes ahead, a £25 million project would see a floating wind turbine designed, built and installed at Wave Hub, the world’s largest wave energy testing centre, by 2016.

The project would explore the potential of building floating wind farms in deep water areas that are unsuitable for turbines with fixed foundations. Dr David Clarke, Chief Executive of ETI, explains: ‘The concept for the floating platforms is to be able to access near-to-shore, high- wind speed sites off the west coast of the UK which would bring down the cost of generating electricity, so the Wave Hub site offers some interesting possibilities.’

Wave Hub, located 10 miles off the coast of Hayle, is an ideal testing centre as it combines the right marine conditions with an existing underwater cable connection to the National Grid via an onshore substation. The ETI is currently consulting with a range of stakeholders about the trial and hopes to complete its feasibility studies by summer 2012.

Wilding says: ‘What a great example of the UK leading the way in the development of marine energy technologies! A recent study has shown that offshore energy resources off the South West coast could generate up to 20% of electricity demand for the whole country. Let’s hope this exciting trial goes ahead and enables us to tap into this vast potential. ’

Sources:BBCand This is Cornwall