O&G major Total has made a step into the floating offshore wind market, targeting the UK for its first project.
Total has signed an agreement with developer Simply Blue Energy to acquire an 80% stake in the 96MW Erebus floating wind project in the Celtic Sea in Wales.
The project is to be installed in an area with water depth of 70 meters, and marks Total’s first move into the sector.
Floating wind is set for strong growth in the years to come, Total claimed, with the technology having “wide potential”.
It ties in with Total’s new low carbon goals, having integrated climate change into its strategy. It is now building a portfolio of low carbon businesses that could account for 15-20% of its sales by 2040.
Worldwide, Total’s gross low carbon power generation capacity is close to 7GW, including 3GW from renewables.
Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of Total, said the company is confirming its “ambition to contribute to the development of renewable energy worldwide”.
“Floating offshore wind is an extremely promising and technical segment where Total brings its extensive expertise in offshore operations & maintenance. Total has the appropriate skills to meet the technological and financial requirements that determine the success of future floating offshore developments.”
Total also recently announced plans to install 20,000 new public electric vehicle charge points in the Netherlands after winning Europe’s largest concession contract from Metropolitan Region Amsterdam Electric (MRA-Electric), with the electricity for the chargers to be sourced from renewables.
Total is also involved in a carbon capture and storage project in a consortium with other O&G majors, and in January invested into GridBeyond in a funding round that saw it raise £9 million.
