STX France Solutions, subsidiary of STX France, specialized in the Offshore Oil & Gas and Marine Renewable Energy Engineering – has just joined the privileged club of certified specialists of the offshore wind foundations market.
The innovative jacket design launched by its R&D team has received the approval of DNV, international certification body considered as a reference on this market.
This new design is estimated to be 10 to 15% cheaper to fabricate than most of the references on the market. “This gap in competitiveness is due to both our technical and industrial expertise” , says Frédéric Grizaud, STX France Solutions General Manager. “By integrating during the design phase, the material sourcing issues as well as the fabrication and logistic ones, we have been able to optimise the industrialisation of the jacket. Our industrial expertise brings a strong added value in our engineering process, for our customer’s satisfaction.”
“FONDEOL” development program, backed by Pays de la Loire Regional Council, has allowed this new concept to be ready in less than 2 years. “I praise the joint action of STX Solutions and Ecole Centrale de Nantes (engineering school), while highlighting the Council financial support in 2011. Thanks to this conjunction of good wills, the project has come true in less than 2 years” , says Christophe Clergeau, 1st VP of the Pays de la Loire Council.
With this innovation, STX France SOLUTIONS allows the French offshore wind sector to catch up about 10 years and be ready for competitive European windfarm tenders.
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Press release, December 11, 2012; Image: stx