Hydro Group finishes project

Aberdeen-headquartered Hydro Group has completed a £2.5 million project for France’s first floating offshore wind power project.

The subsea specialist has completed the manufacture and installation of cable infrastructure for the SEM-REV Floatgen turbine, 12 miles from the town of Le Croisic on the French Atlantic coast.

It was carried out along with regional partner Wenex Equipments within seven months.

Hydro said the work is being acknowledged as “the successful foundation of the French industrial offshore wind energy sector”.

The Floatgen turbine is now fully operational and its connection to the grid will supply electricity to 5,000 people.

CEO Douglas Whyte said: “Hydro Group identified the need to provide a long-lasting, secure solution suited to Atlantic seawater conditions using triedand-tested methods to ensure maximum reliability.

“Our Power Distribution Hub’s modular design greatly reduces carbon footprint and the dual water ingress protection along with the anti-corrosion properties of our technology will provide reliable sealing with a 20-year operational lifespan.”

Hydro employs more than 100 people worldwide.

Director general of Wenex Equipments, Benoit d’Alançon, said: “The successful completion of the SEM-REV project is of great importance to our FrancoScottish collaboration. “By working together, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of our technical partnership and created a solid foundation for future success.”

“Our modular design greatly reduces carbon footprint”