The turbine is being developed by French firms Nenuphar and EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN).
The change in capacity is a result of the general optimisation of the design, said Charles Smadja, Nenuphar CEO. "We realised that with the same floater we can have a higher-rated turbine," he explained.
The performance of the onshore prototype at Fos-sur-Mer "is exactly as calculated and even a bit better", Smadja added. All being well, an offshore prototype will be installed at the Mistral test site in the Mediterranean in 2016.
The consortium then plans a pilot project some time after 2017, featuring 13 turbines totalling 34MW, dubbed Provence Grand Large and located 17 kilometres offshore. They hope to obtain the necessary permits by the end of this year.
Depending on the terms, the consortium may submit the project in response to the government's call for expressions of interest for floating pilot farms expected next June.
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