The Future Of Floating Wind Power
Vidi Energy will develop technology to standardise the process of bringing floating foundations and wind turbines together for installation offshore.
In this way Vidi Energy aims to eliminate variations between projects, which limit economies of scale and require developers to extend construction schedules and budgets unnecessarily to accommodate bespoke engineering and installation work.
Floating Offshore Wind
As the world looks towards greener energy solutions, more and more countries are exploring offshore wind farms.
Floating solutions, which can be deployed in more circumstances than the established fixed-bottom approach, will be increasingly in demand on a commercial scale.
Our mission is to replace fixed-based offshore wind turbines with better, more cost-effective and safer floating offshore wind models.
Our Vision
To power the global energy transition with low-cost renewable electricity.
Our Mission
To make mass production, lean manufacturing, and floating structures the universal standard for offshore wind energy.
Our Values
Intelligent
We recognise the critical need to reduce CO2 emissions and are committed to delivering the most intelligent means of doing that. While innovation is a given, mass production is a proven approach and we clearly see the value of its application in the offshore wind sector. We understand the significance of lowering the cost of energy and recognise the potential of bringing tried and tested lean manufacturing techniques to this quickly evolving space.
Courageous
We are not afraid of challenging the status quo to find ways of expediting positive progress. We are excited by the opportunities available to us and are eager to engage with new ideas and approaches to achieve our goals. We bring enthusiasm to every activity we undertake, whether it is raising funds, identifying technology development pathways, meeting with partners, or talking to customers. Our courage stems from a drive and passion to deliver genuine change in the offshore wind sector powering the energy transition. And we want to play our part in saving the planet.
Lean
Efficiency is central to our approach and lean thinking is at the heart of our ethos. Productivity and continuous improvement guide our daily operations. We understand the offshore wind marketplace and bring practical, long-term, strategic thinking which ultimately lowers the cost of energy.
Meet the Team
Net Zero CO₂
Vidi Energy will be the first provider of a power technology that is Net Zero CO2 from even before the product is delivered to the customer.
We will do this by tracking CO2 usage in our own operations, in the supply chain, in our customers’ usage of our ready-to-float product, and through our Vidi Energy production software. We will then offset the total CO2 using triple-certified schemes.
Vidi Energy also runs as a Net Zero CO2 company, with triple-certified and gold-standard reporting and offsetting. The company is being supported by Dodo.eco under the Green House Gas (GHG) Protocol.
Our Locations
Vidi Energy is currently location neutral.
Our first official hub will be opening in the UK shortly with further sites to be launched in the USA and Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is currently no company in the offshore wind sector that is working on a remotely similar concept as Vidi Energy. Floating platforms are under development, and wind turbines have already been developed and are bankable. Our main competitors are the turnkey/EPCi contractors that today assemble offshore wind farm projects on a one-off basis and in batches; each project is essentially bespoke. Vidi Energy will standardise and automate the assembly process, which will enable us to drive down costs and improve the turnaround time and safety. We will sell a ready-to-float combined offshore wind turbine together with a floating foundation. This combination is not currently available in the market.
Marine Power Systems (MPS) and other crowdfunding projects in this sector are technology developers whose technology is not yet bankable or commercially viable. Their projects are several years behind ours. We are prospecting a new mass-assembly procedure, not a technology with huge development costs.
They are developing a new floating foundation technology and wave energy device, currently at the prototype stage. They, together with other new players in the floating wind space, tend to focus on new and potentially better-floating foundations and will eventually be manufacturers for that part. They would one day be a supplier to Vidi Energy.
Utility companies certainly need more options for delivery of offshore wind, and globally, growth for the period 2020-30 is predicted (by GWEC) at 700% or a CAGR of 23%. Our customers – utilities/oil & gas companies and independent power producers – all need to bid into competitive auctions to gain an export tariff before they can finance and build a wind project. These auctions are very price-sensitive, and the cost savings we intend to offer should make our offering attractive.
There are many elements that feed into the decision, from technologies used to water depths in potential ports to financial incentives by the regional development funds. Our first assembly hub will be located at a harbourside in the UK and will supply UK/Europe.
Offshore wind turbines have typically been built with a 25-year design life, but the industry is gradually moving to 30 years for future projects. This will extend further over time. For example, they cannot be used in water that is too shallow and Vidi Energy is targeting projects in waters of more than 40m depth. There are also some limitations around water that is too deep, but expertise from floating oil and gas platforms over the last 50 years will enable many locations.
The floating foundations and wind turbines are designed for various sea and weather conditions, and the correct type must be selected for a specific region. For example, in some locations, they need to be “typhoon-proof”. There are some design limitations, which depend on the precise details of which floating foundation and wind turbine are used.
They cannot be used in water that is too shallow and Vidi Energy is targeting projects in waters of more than 40m depth. There are also some limitations around water that is too deep, but expertise from floating oil and gas platforms over the last 50 years will enable many locations.
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