In addition to this investment, dstgroup’s steel engineering and manufacturing subsidiary, the award-winning bysteel, will fabricate and construct the modular steel structures for Gazelle’s Nau Azul project.
Global offshore wind installations are set to grow from 8 GW in 2024 to 50 GW by 2033. Large turbines will play a key role in scaling the industry and lowering the levelized cost of energy (LCoE), and a single 15MW turbine can power up to 20,000 European homes.
The Nau Azul project, which is located off the coast of Aguçadoura, Portugal, will serve as validation of Gazelle’s floating wind platform, which has been structurally sized for Portugal’s harsh offshore conditions and engineered for industrial-scale rollout with turbines of 15MW and larger.
Gazelle’s patented floating platform, which combines unique hull geometry with a counterweight-based mooring system, has been engineered to reduce motion, minimize environmental impact, and dramatically lower cost of energy (LCoE), making floating wind more viable. The design allows for a compact structure to be assembled in shallow-draft ports, using less steel and delivering a smaller footprint than traditional floating platforms.
“Our partnership with dstgroup marks a pivotal step in accelerating the commercialization of floating wind systems across Iberia. Their experience in scaling industrial ventures and innovative approach to new business ventures gives Gazelle the momentum we need to quickly advance our technology,” commented Gazelle Wind Power CEO, Jon Salazar.
“Combined with bysteel’s innovative approach to industrial scale production and design, we’re developing cost-effective offshore wind platforms that can be scaled for large-scale commercial deployments.”
“Our investment in Gazelle Wind Power aligns with dstgroup’s strategy of advancing the energy transition through solutions that combine engineering excellence with environmental responsibility,” said José Teixeira, Chairman of dstgroup.
“We are thrilled to contribute to what promises to be a landmark demonstration of the scalability of floating wind platforms to turbine sizes of 15MW and above, which enhances Portugal’s leadership in offshore renewable energy innovation.”
Recently, Gazelle secured the approval of a 10-year TUPEM (Título de Utilização Privativa do Espaço Marítimo) authorization, clearing the way for the deployment of the Nau Azul floating wind project, which is expected to generate a range of economic benefits for the region, including the creation of new jobs across the local supply chain.
