The PlemCat test site, a dedicated facility for developing floating offshore wind projects within the LEBA 1 commercial area in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea, has received Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval. The decision clears the way for the NextFloat project, which will deploy X1 Wind's X100 8.5 MW floating platform.
The approval confirms that the PlemCat test site and associated projects meet environmental requirements, including the protection of the marine environment and local biodiversity. The NextFloat project, led by Technip Energies and X1 Wind, will deploy the company's first commercial-scale floating platform. The X100 is based on a hybrid design that combines a tension-leg platform with a semi-submersible structure.
The tripod-shaped X100 platform is designed for turbines with a 160 metre rotor diameter while requiring approximately 1,500 tonnes of primary steel. The demonstration unit will support an 8.5 MW downwind turbine with a 160 metre rotor diameter. The project is intended to support the future commercialisation of the larger X150 platform, designed for turbines rated above 20 MW.
The pilot installation will operate offshore for several years, providing operational data to support prototype certification and future commercial deployment. The project is supported by private investment, the European Union-funded NextFloat and NextFloat+ programmes, the PAREF project funded by the French Government through France 2030 and operated by ADEME, and the Spanish Government's RenMarinas programme.
The X100 platform recently received a Statement of Compliance for its basic design from DNV.
