Schmidbauer looks back on the successful completion of the Provence Grand Large (PGL) project. The first floating wind farm in the Mediterranean represents a significant milestone in France's energy development. The realization of this ambitious project not only generates green electricity but also gathers valuable experience in waters unsuitable for conventional wind turbine foundations.
Schmidbauer had been awarded the contract for the project in the French Provence approximately four and a half years ago. Since then, the responsible teams from Schmidbauer and Siemens Gamesa RE have closely collaborated in the areas of engineering, health, safety, and the environment (HSE), as well as commercially. Recently, Schmidbauer successfully erected the last of three prototype units, thus completing its assignment in the Mediterranean for now. This is a remarkable success, underscoring the effective cooperation, commitment, and technical expertise of all involved parties.
International Innovation Power
The modern Provence Grand Large wind farm, located 40 kilometers west of Marseille in an area of the Mediterranean with a depth of around 100 meters, exemplifies progress and innovation in the energy sector.
Schmidbauer takes pride in contributing to the creation of a more sustainable energy future in France. "The successful realization of the PGL project reinforces our commitment to promoting renewable energies and our endeavor to develop innovative solutions for energy generation in challenging environments," notes Werner Schmidbauer, CEO of the Schmidbauer Group. "We look forward to working together with our partners on future projects and further advancing the energy transition."
The wind farm, developed by EDF-Renouvelables, consists of three floating 8 MW wind turbines and is expected to produce the annual electricity consumption of 45,000 households in the future.
Cross-Border Collaborative Achievement
Provence Grand Large represents a significant advancement in offshore wind power and sets new standards for international collaboration in the field of renewable energy at sea. After the 45-meter-high floating foundation was assembled initially, it was launched into the water and towed to the Gloria Quay in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône using specialized vessels. There, under the direction of Siemens Gamesa RE, Schmidbauer installed an 8.4 MW wind turbine of the latest generation. The other two wind turbines were erected in the subsequent weeks.
To manage a project of this magnitude, Schmidbauer deployed an LR 11350 crawler crane with PowerBoom, capable of lifting up to 1,350 tons. This was complemented by a CC2400 crawler crane, ensuring a lifting capacity of up to 400 tons.
Equipment:
- LR 11350 with PowerBoom
- CC 2400-1
- LTM 1130
- SPMT's
Location: Fos-sur-Mer/Marseille, France
Duration: June – August 2023
