Gazelle Wind Power reduces power costs with next-generation platform

Floating foundation and mooring systems comprise more than 40% of the total industry cost.

Gazelle Wind Power contributes to bringing down the levelised cost of electricity with its next-generation platform for offshore wind turbines by eliminating the need for some parts, resulting in lower prices.

CEO Jon Salazar said the company's technology removed the active ballast system and introduced a counterweight system which reduces the mass or around 3,000 tonnes of steel at 50 megawatt-scale.

"[We] aim to significantly reduce cost by producing and building technology that can be serially manufactured, serially assembled, and serially installed," he told Asian Power at the Smart Energy Week, noting that the floating foundation and the mooring system account for over 40% of the total cost in the industry.

Salazar also noted that they reduced the length of the mooring system by 75% by substituting catenary chains, allowing the technology to be placed in areas like the Asia Pacific which has seismic activities and harsh conditions such as typhoons.

Gazelle Wind Power also reduced the draft of 3.5 metres for a 50 megawatt-scale, making the project suitable for most ports, and providing options for more energy developers.

The company is currently present in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia. But Salazr noted that the Philippines has the potential to grow offshore wind projects as the island nation has an average water depth of 300 metres.