Bechtel and Hexicon to build multi-turbine floaters offshore UK

Engineering, construction, and project management company Bechtel is partnering with Sweden’s Hexicon to demonstrate the technology for large-scale floating wind power generation projects off the coast of the UK.

The initial partnership will draw on Bechtel’s engineering, construction, and project financing expertise to develop the design and constructability of the offshore wind facility.

In addition to demonstrating a 35 MW to 40 MW floating wind project, the team will also establish how the technology could be brought to market and explore the roles that local suppliers could play in shipbuilding, mooring, and installations, as well as the long-term serving needs of floating offshore wind.

“Our technology is one of a handful of solutions that can support deep water offshore wind projects, which will massively increase the potential for offshore wind power generation,” said Marcus Thor, CEO of Hexicon.

“The UK has shown great initiative in this industry and we are delighted to have world-leading construction and engineering company Bechtel to help us deploy our innovative twin turbine floating foundation in British waters. This will be good for the UK and beyond, as the world’s demand for clean energy solutions continues to grow exponentially.”

Positive results from this demonstration project are expected to further bolster the UK as a world leader in offshore wind generation and support the UK Government’s path to generate 40 GW of offshore wind power by 2030.

Hexicon develops floating wind projects and designs multi-turbine floating wind platforms.

“We are delighted to be supporting Hexicon to bring their important technology to the market,” said George Whittaker, Bechtel business development manager.

“As a company that has a long history solving complex engineering problems, including in the offshore industries, we are confident that this technology is possible and could be a real game-changer for the renewables market.”