Bladetips Energy, a French startup founded in 2016, is developing a novel floating offshore wind turbine design that eliminates the traditional central mast. The core innovation is a triangular floating platform that directly supports three turbine blades at their tips, with the nacelle and generator housed in a central pod. This mastless configuration aims to significantly reduce material use and structural weight.

The company claims this design could cut the cost of a floating offshore wind turbine by 30-40% compared to conventional models. Key savings come from eliminating the massive steel tower, using lighter composite materials for the blades and structure, and reducing the need for heavy ballast. The lighter system also allows for installation using smaller, less expensive vessels.

In addition to cost reduction, Bladetips Energy states the design increases energy production. The mastless structure reduces wake effects and turbulence, potentially boosting output by 5-10%. The platform is designed for water depths of 60-300 meters and is suitable for harsh offshore environments.

Having raised €2.5 million in seed funding, the startup is progressing toward a 1:3 scale prototype. The technology represents a radical departure from existing floating wind designs, focusing on structural simplification to improve the economic viability of deep-water offshore wind farms.

Production d'éolienne offshore flottante sans mât permettant la réduction du prix d'achat d'une éolienne ainsi que l'augmentation de la production d'énergie