X1 Wind

X1 Wind has signed an MoU with market-leading mooring line manufacturer – and developer of the world’s strongest cables – FibreMax to boost performance, innovation and sustainability in the floating wind energy sector.

X1 Wind’s disruptive floating wind solution benefits from passive weathervaning and self-orientation capabilities, achieved through the integration of a Single Point Mooring (SPM) system with a small tension leg platform (TLP) mooring system.

The Spanish firm is making rapid progress developing its pre-commercial and commercial units, while its earlier X30 device was recognised as the world’s first fully functional floating wind TLP (Tension Leg Platform) to export electricity.

One of the key benefits of X1 Wind’s TLP is the vertical mooring tendons which ensure a small seabed footprint, enhancing compatibility with other marine activities, like fishing, while also allowing for a larger number of platforms to be placed within a given offshore area – increasing energy capacity. 

The latest collaboration with FibreMax will now explore opportunities to boost performance and sustainability of its mooring configuration with the introduction of synthetic cables, with improved strength, durability, low-weight and no-creep characteristics. Crafted with circular or recyclable materials, FibreMax cables will further enhance the floating wind platform’s green credentials.

Established in 2009, FibreMax is a trailblazing force in the cable industry, and the exclusive creator of the ‘endlessly wound’ cable, boasting unparalleled strength and durability. The firm’s cutting-edge robots expertly wind synthetic fibres around the integrated end-terminations, delivering a cable that is 85% lighter than steel, rust-resistant, maintenance-free, and built to last more than 30 years.

X1 Wind, a developer of floating wind technology, has officially opened a new office in Navarra, which will be responsible for designing and implementing electrical, communication, and control systems for floating wind platforms.

The new offices will primarily host X1 Wind’s electrical department, which includes five electrical engineers led by Adrián Oliva, Electrical & SCADA Manager. Additionally, the offices will include an industrial engineer from the operations department.

Adrián Oliva stated, “The opening of this workspace in Tafalla not only strengthens our commitment to technological innovation but also allows us to leverage local talent and closely collaborate with regional companies to drive the development of floating wind power. At X1 Wind, we are firmly committed to this center as our entire division of Electrical Engineering, Control and  Instrumentation Engineering, Communications Engineering, and SCADA will be developed entirely in the Comunidad Foral.”

The company has chosen Navarra due to its strategic national position and extensive experience in wind energy, with over 50 operational wind farms, mostly onshore.

Located in Tafalla, the new offices will facilitate X1 Wind’s interactions with both public and private entities in the Comunidad Foral for the development of floating offshore wind projects.

X1 Wind’s establishment in the Comunidad Foral has been supported by Sodena, a public entity under the Government of Navarra responsible for attracting investments from outside Navarra.

Alex Raventos, CEO of X1 Wind, expressed, “The opening of our new office in Navarra represents another step forward for the advancement of floating wind power in Spain. This center will not only allow us to collaborate closely with local companies and leverage the vast wind energy experience of the region but also foster the creation of high-quality jobs in areas where such opportunities are typically scarce. We are excited about the support received from the Government of Navarra and Sodena and trust that this alliance will strengthen our goal of promoting technological innovation and energy transition.”

Currently, X1 Wind’s team in Navarra is expanding the network of local companies to collaborate on platform testing, equipment supply, and custom electrical cabinet manufacturing.

The NextFloat+ Project has secured a ‘cornerstone grant’ of €13.4m from the European Commission’s Innovation Fund supporting the industrialisation of floating wind.

The pan-European project aims to accelerate the roll out of the next generation of floating wind technology by boosting competitiveness and scalability.

Led by a consortium formed by X1 Wind, as project coordinator, alongside Technip Energies and NextFloat Plus S.A.S, it will involve the deployment of a 6MW floating wind platform at a test site in Mediterranean Sea.

The pre-commercial prototype, called ‘X90’, will demonstrate a cost-effective integrated system composed of a structurally efficient and lightweight floating platform with a SPM (Single Point Mooring) and a TLP (Tension Leg Platform), greatly reducing the seabed footprint impact.

The cash injection will further advance industrialization and scale-up of the integrated floating wind solution at 20MW+ scale.

X1 Wind CEO and co-founder Alex Raventos said the announcement comes after the X90 platform was granted a Statement of Feasibility and a Statement of Compliance from world-leading independent expert DNV.

“We’re thrilled to receive support from the Innovation Fund” said Mr Raventos. “The grant represents a cornerstone in the fundraising for the NextFloat+ Project, adding to finance already secured through the European Commission under the Horizon Europe program, finance secured through the French Government as part of the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME, plus private funding from partners and shareholders. Crucially, it will provide an opportunity to drive substantial improvements in the competitiveness of floating wind as we prepare for long-term mass deployment in locations around the world.”

The NextFloat+ Project will build on the findings of the PivotBuoy Project, which proved X1 Wind’s innovative technology by successfully deploying a part-scale prototype in the Canary Islands. In particular, it will introduce additional innovations to reduce the LCOE of floating wind and its environmental impact, namely the patented quick-connector system and the installation of a bio-boosting system applied on the floater.

With over 40 editions celebrated, the ADI-FAD has been promoting the historical Delta Awards award, which recognizes products that exemplify innovative and functional design. Up to 131 products were part of the Delta selection, a public recognition of those products that propose conceptual renovations, bring environmental improvements and provide excellence in both design and manufacturing processes.

The Delta Awards jury has chosen 9 Delta Gold, 20 Silver, 99 Bronze and 3 Mentions. Among the 9 Delta Gold, the PivotBuoy Technology won as the best industrial design in Barcelona in the ‘Outdoor Equipment’ category.

 “The PivotBuoy Technology was awarded because of being an honest solution, easy to maintain, modular and scalable. With a floating structure that allows the platform to weathervane passively, capitalizing the natural forces of the wind in the middle of the ocean, with a minor impact on the fauna and flora.”, claimed the jury.

The PivotBuoy Project, developed by X1 Wind in collaboration with 9 industry and R&D leaders, finalized its offshore demonstration with excellent results that promise to revolutionize the floating wind industry.

The Spanish firm’s X30 platform was tested in full operational conditions at PLOCAN from October 2022 to May 2023. During the 7-month demonstration, the device became the world’s first fully functional floating wind TLP (Tension Leg Platform). The unit fed its electricity to PLOCAN’s Platform via a 1.4km 20kV subsea cable.

X1 Wind CEO Alex Raventos said that the recently published results illustrate excellent performance across a broad range of parameters including platform stability, passive alignment, structural behaviour and power production:

“The PivotBuoy Project marked an important phase in the development of our innovative technology,” he said. “It allowed us to retrieve large amounts of data for a sustained period of time in full operational conditions. This data was collected from multiple sensors installed across the platform through a dedicated and proprietary SCADA called Floating Management System. These findings have provided crucial insights which are now being incorporated into X1 Wind’s ongoing commercial-scale projects, including the NextFloat Project.”

The most striking result is that data showed very good alignment with the wind using its passive orientation system. The platform showed better alignment than publicly available data for traditional active yaw systems for strong winds (>7.5m/s) and similar alignment for lower wind speeds (<7.5m/s).

In terms of power production, energy generated by the modified Vestas V29 – which operates in a downwind configuration – was well aligned with theoretical models, with no sign of power loss or increased 3P vibration due to the tripod shadow. The results confirm that X1 Wind’s streamlined tripod arrangement eliminates the known drawbacks typically associated with downwind operation.

In addition, the platform overcame several harsh storms, with maximum wave heights reaching 6.7 meters, equivalent to more than 20 meters in full-scale. During these extreme events, the unit behaved well with motions and accelerations matching the predictions in simulation models.