May 4 (Renewables Now) – Spanish floating wind specialist BlueFloat Energy has more than 5 GW of offshore wind projects underway in Colombia, and the most mature of them could reach the ready-to-build stage in 2024/2025 , the company representative told Renewables Now.
BlueFloat has already ticked off several milestones for the Vientos Alisios offshore wind development, including securing a 200 MW grid connection with Colombian mining and energy planning unit UPME. The company says Vientos Alisios is the country’s most advanced offshore wind project to date, being the first to be granted pre-feasibility status by Colombian maritime authority DIMAR.
In an emailed statement to Renewables Now, BlueFloat communications manager Isabel Rodrigo said the company plans to install 500 MW at the Vientos Alisios site and will use stationary turbines for the project, with a view to to begin construction in 2024/2025.
“[P]re-engineering work, wind measurements and oceanographic characterization are already underway,” Rodrigo said.
The wind farm will be located off the coasts of the departments of Bolivar and Atlantico. BlueFloat said it has partnered with Energia Renovables to work on development.
In addition to Vientos Alisios, the company is working on the development of six other potential projects off the coast of Colombia, which together could add up to 5.2 GW of capacity. Two of them are floating wind projects, located off the Caribbean town of Santa Marta, Rodrigo explained. BlueFloat was granted pre-feasibility status for the pair in August 2021, she added.
BlueFloat timed its announcement to coincide with the Tuesday launch of Colombia’s offshore wind roadmap by the government, which considers the country has a potential of around 50 GW of offshore wind capacity.
“BlueFloat Energy invests in Colombia because it believes in the country’s potential. Colombia enjoys a privileged location for the development of offshore wind projects and has an exceptional wind resource,” Armando Politi, BlueFloat Energy Country Manager for Colombia, said in a statement.
“[O]Our goal as a company is to build an offshore wind industry in Colombia, generating value for the local and national economy of the country while working jointly with local communities under the strictest sustainability policies aimed at minimize the impact,” Politi added.
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