Hellenic Cables NextFloat Floating Wind Project Expands Renewable Innovation
Hellenic Cables, a global cable manufacturer, has joined the NextFloat floating wind project, a pan‑European partnership focused on a 6 MW floating wind prototype in the French Mediterranean. The initiative aims to speed up renewable development and demonstrate efficient offshore wind solutions across Europe.
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This coalition includes 13 partners from eight countries, such as X1 Wind, Naturgy, 2B Energy, the Technical University of Denmark, Hydro, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Schwartz Hautmont, Ocas, Tersan Shipyard, Ocean Ecostructures, and Cybernetix. Together, these companies will bring engineering expertise, manufacturing capability, and research excellence to the project.
NextFloat Floating Wind Project Boosts European Innovation
Backed by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program, the Hellenic Cables NextFloat floating wind project received €16 million in public funding. The team will develop and install a 6 MW prototype scheduled to operate by 2027.
The design features an integrated downwind floating platform that can scale up to 20 MW or more. With this, the project will support the growth of commercial floating wind farms across Europe. Moreover, it reinforces the EU’s ambition to make renewable energy widely accessible and industrially viable.
Building on Proven Research Success
The NextFloat initiative builds on the earlier PivotBuoy project, which successfully tested a small‑scale floating wind turbine in the Canary Islands. Engineers began design work on the new system in 2023, while construction continues through 2024. Installation is set to begin in 2025.
Floating wind energy remains one of the most sustainable and low‑impact power sources. It offers less noise, lower visual disruption, and minimal interaction with marine life while providing consistent, large‑scale energy output. As a result, the technology is poised to become a cornerstone of future global power systems.
Scaling Global Floating Wind Potential
“Our goal is to expand and industrialize this technology,” said Alex Raventos, Founder and CEO of X1 Wind. “After validating the PivotBuoy design in the Canary Islands, we are now scaling it up for full commercial projects in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. by the decade’s end.”
The Hellenic Cables NextFloat floating wind project represents a milestone in renewable power development. It advances European expertise while supporting global efforts to expand clean, accessible, and affordable energy production.
