French companies Alstom and DCNS have signed an agreement to develop floating wind turbine technology and bring it to market.
Dubbed ‘SEA REED’, the project has received funding worth €6 million (£4.7m) from the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management, known as Ademe, for the study and certification phase.
The firms will work together to initially produce a 6MW floating turbine by 2017 prior to deploying pilot and commercial farms.
Jérôme Pécresse, Alstom Renewable Power Chairman said: “By combining the technology of our Haliade offshore wind turbine with DCNS’ unique expertise in the maritime field, we are merging our respective know-hows as early as possible in the process so we can work together at developing an innovative, competitive energy solution.”