Industry context/challenge

Floating offshore wind technology is a game-changer for the renewable energy sector, particularly in deep waters where traditional fixed foundations are not viable. Floating wind foundations enable the installation of wind turbines in waters deeper than 50 meters, tapping into stronger and more consistent wind resources.

Projections indicate that around 12% of the country’s offshore wind capacity will be floating by 2030. This technology is crucial for the expansion of offshore wind projects, as it opens up new areas for development and helps overcome geographical constraints. To achieve these ambitious goals, continuous innovations and advancements in floating wind technologies, such as improved mooring systems and substructure designs, are essential. 

Project Overview

Salamander Wind Project Ltd, a joint venture between Simple Blue Group, Ørsted and Subsea 7, is developing the The Salamander Offshore Floating Wind project. The project’s aim is to serve as a precursor and stepping-stone to ScotWind developments, enabling the Scottish supply chain to prepare and mitigate risks for these larger commercial opportunities. 

Salamander will feature six or seven wind turbine generators (WTGs) on semi-submersible floating foundations, designed as a 100 MW development.  

Located approximately 35 km east of Peterhead in North East Scotland, the project will operate in waters around 100 meters deep. The project will transmit power via 66 kV cables, with landfall and a substation near St Fergus.  

Crown Estate Scotland awarded the project a 100 MW innovation seabed lease under their INTOG leasing round. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the project becoming operational by 2029. The development is expected to have an operational life of 25 years. 

Supplier and Innovation Pathway

Launched in 2021, Salamander’s Supplier and Innovation Pathway offers companies with innovative or locally sourced solutions a direct route to participate in the project. This initiative targets key interests across all engineering phases to engage relevant solution providers. 

After completing the Concept and Pre-FEED stages, the project identified several key areas of interest that present challenges for both the project and the industry: 

• health and safety: innovations to improve safety in offshore wind construction and operations, especially for teams working in challenging environments
• turbine integration: alternative methods for integrating large turbines onto floating foundations due to limited availability of ring cranes
• anchor technology: new anchoring solutions to reduce vessel time, simplify installation, and minimise environmental impact
• low carbon materials: low-carbon steel and concrete to reduce the carbon footprint of floating foundations
• vessel optimisation: innovations that reduce the need for construction vessels or make their use more efficient in the busy North Sea market

Industry value

Throughout the project, Salamander has engaged with Scottish and UK suppliers to maximise local supply chain benefits. Early engagement has allowed significant influence on the project’s direction. Aligning the project with supply chain capabilities is expected to boost job creation and revenue growth.  

Their goal is to engage the right stakeholders at the appropriate times during the project’s development. To achieve this, they have designed a staged engagement strategy aligned with the project’s engineering phases. As the project progresses, they will gain more clarity on the design solution, allowing them to share more details with the supply chain and receive more refined market responses.  

NZTC’s support for the Salamander Offshore Floating Wind Project

Recognising the potential of NZTC’s Technology Solutions, Salamander approached NZTC through the INTOG Innovation Network to support Phase 2 of their Supplier and Innovation Pathway.  The goal of this partnership was to maximise stakeholder engagement benefits by leveraging NZTC’s extensive network and valuable connections. 

Salamander was pleased to partner with NZTC to reach a broad audience of innovators. The work NZTC executed led to a very positive reception of our innovation call and high quality applications. We look forward to working with NZTC again in the future.

Tom Brown, Innovation and Interface Manager, Salamander Wind