The construction phase of our ARCHIME3 project is underway! Designed to showcase our innovative slip-forming fabrication technique, we’re creating a partial, full-scale prototype of the 22MW TRIWIND floater to demonstrate the viability of our technology in real-world conditions.
Earlier demonstrations at the IHCantabria Wave Tank highlighted the seaworthiness and stability of our unique floating platform design; now we’re showcasing how our rapid slip-forming construction method can be used to scale production, increase efficiency and reduce CAPEX.
Working in conjunction with leading companies, Costanor S. XXI, Bygging-Uddemann, Master Builders Solutions and GalaiControl, we’ll be producing a full-scale cell that’s integral to the design of our TRIWIND floating platform. This section of the platform includes the most complex and challenging elements of the construction to provide a true test of our slip-forming construction strategy and overall constructability!
What does the project involve?
Over a period of six weeks, we’ll build one of the most complex elements of a TRIWIND floating platform to full scale at a dedicated site in Lugo, Spain. In addition to showcasing the technical feasibility of the TRIWIND design, the project will highlight its readiness for commercial-scale mass production.
The structure itself is a triangular prism with varying wall sizes and three distinct nodes where walls intersect. These nodes represent critical points in the design and execution, making them particularly significant for validating the construction methodology. The structure will reach a total height of nearly 7 meters, showcasing the platform’s scalability and engineering sophistication.
How Long Is the Construction Phase?
Running throughout January and February 2025, the construction phase encompasses a wide range of activities, including the definition and testing of concrete mixes, site prep and equipment assembly and testing. However, the actual construction of the partial, full-scale prototype will take place over just 12 days!
Following this, we’ll fabricate the vertical walls and upper slab of the floater cell over nine days before submitting the prototype to water tightness testing and trials. During the course of the mock-up project, our team is working 10-12 day shifts, whereas commercial projects will benefit from round-the-clock, 24-hour operations. This will further accelerate production times and enable full-scale TRIWIND platforms to be fabricated at rapid speed on real-world projects.
What Is ARCHIME3?
ARCHIME3 is a €2.4M project awarded to Beridi by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program, in accordance with grant agreement No 101009363.
Its main objective is to demonstrate that Beridi’s technology can drastically reduce costs and construction time of floating wind platforms for installation of large wind turbines, thus reducing the Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE).
The construction phase of the mock-up project represents the culmination of the ARCHIME3 project. Proving the technical feasibility and rapid construction of our TRIWIND technology, the mock-up project enables us to show its real-world impact on CAPEX and LCOE. In turn, this will highlight TRIWIND’s critical role in realizing the potential of floating offshore wind as a dependable and cost-effective source of renewable energy.
What's Next?
Alternatively, you can learn more about the ARCHIME3 project at our dedicated site, https://www.archime3.eu/