Description
The R&D&I Platform in Marine Energies of Catalonia (PLEMCAT), led by the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) and supported by the Generalitat of Catalunya through the Institut Català d’Energia (ICAEN), will be a unique infrastructure for developing pioneering and innovative projects for the development of floating offshore wind and other marine energies in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as related sciences and technologies.
The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) is a research center in energy, which is part of the CERCA system, and has the TECNIO accreditation. IREC is recognized as a reference research center in the field of energy at an international level. Its participation in PLEMCAT demonstrates its commitment to the development of innovative and sustainable solutions to address the energy challenges of the future.
PLEMCAT has the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In addition, according to the resolution of October 25, 2023, the application for a grant for Subprogram 1, dedicated to R&D&I platforms, has been admitted into the Final Resolution of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, in collaboration with IDAE. Concerning the grant of the “Primera convocatoria del programa para la concesión de ayudas a la inversión en proyectos piloto y plataformas de ensayo e infraestructuras portuarias para renovables marinas, en el marco del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia Financiado por la Unión Europea–Next GenerationEU» (1ª Convocatoria – Programa RENMARINAS DEMOS)”
GOALS
The objective of PLEMCAT is to position the R&D&I sector of Catalonia as a leader in floating wind power and marine sciences and technologies among Mediterranean countries. PLEMCAT will provide a floating platform in the Mediterranean Sea as a test laboratory for the advancement and validation of floating wind power, marine energy and other related technical activities.
The aim of PLEMCAT is to facilitate research in all stages of the development of a floating offshore wind power system and other energy technologies in a marine environment, including the development of advanced simulation models, advanced monitoring, digital twins and control, operation and maintenance through ROV (remotely operated vehicle), climate data, and design of new mooring systems and floats.
EVALUATION AND TESTING ZONES
PLEMCAT will offer a floating platform in the Mediterranean Sea as a testing laboratory for different components, thematic areas, and related technical activities to advance and validate floating wind energy, marine energies, and monitor the marine ecosystem for environmental, climate, and biodiversity studies.
The platform will include different zones at sea for the validation of these activities and tests:
i) Zone for the evaluation of materials and components to understand and identify their behaviour in real marine conditions, and an area for other R&D&I activities;
ii) Test zone for prototypes of marine energy generation technologies with positions up to 15 MW;
DEVELOPMENT AND LOCATION
PLEMCAT will have an underground evacuation line and will be located within the area marked as LEBA1 by the Levantine-Balearic POEM, in the Gulf of Roses. It will be located at a distance of 16-24 km from the north coast of Catalonia and will be connected through a 66 kV submarine power evacuation line to handle the energy generated during tests.
It is planned that PLEMCAT activities will be developed covering all ranges of R&D&I activities from TRL3 to TRL9. It will focus on all the activity related to the testing of prototypes, components, and other actions.
The PLEMCAT platform aims to contribute to the advancement and validation of prototypes that are currently in a scale of 1-5 MW, allowing the testing of turbines (or other generation systems) up to 15 MW, as well as in related technologies and processes, including dynamic cables, autonomous robots for O&M or new materials; in addition, it aims to become an observatory of climate change, biodiversity and environmental monitoring of the Mediterranean Sea. In this way, PLEMCAT will cover research in all phases and fields that impact the development of a floating marine wind system or other marine energies, including the development of advanced simulation models, advanced monitoring, digital twins and control, operation and maintenance through ROV (remotely operated vehicle), climate data and the design of new fixation and floatation systems.
In its initial phase, and as a first action, PLEMCAT will be presented by the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research as an R&D&I project in subprogram 1, ” Plataformas de ensayo para renovables marinas por organismos de investigación ” in the call for proposals of the l’Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía (IDAE) for the granting of aid to investment in pilot projects and testing platforms and port infrastructures for marine renewables in the framework of the ” Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia (1ª Convocatoria. Programa RENMARINAS DEMOS)” of the Ministerio para la para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico.
EXPECTED TIMELINE
The following forecast schedule shows the first phase of the project:
| Tasks | T4/ 2022 | T1/ 2023 | T2/ 2023 | T3/ 2023 | T4/ 2023 | T1/ 2024 | T2/ 2024 | T3/ 2024 | T4/ 2024 | T1/ 2025 | T2/ 2025 | T3/ 2025 | T4/ 2025 | T1/ 2026 |
| Authorization and permits application | ||||||||||||||
| Authorization and permits resolution | ||||||||||||||
| RENMARINAS DEMOS request | ||||||||||||||
| RENMARINAS DEMOS resolution and acceptance | ||||||||||||||
| Tenders phase | ||||||||||||||
| Construction and installation | ||||||||||||||
| Start of activities |
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – March 2023
TECHNICAL CRITERIA OF THE PLEMCAT PLATFORM
PLEMCAT technical score
| Concept | Characteristics | Max. Points | |
| Prototype power | MW | Max 15MW | 30 |
| Output voltage | kV | Design: 66kV | 10 |
| Test duration | years | Time:>=2 years | 10 |
| Prototype height | m | Max 260m | 10 |
| Anchoring system radius | m | To check | 10 |
| Prototype COST estimation | €/MWh | Average costs | 20 |
| GWP estimation | grCO2/MWh | Average value | 20 |
| Financing | YES/NO | 20 | |
| Maturity level | Relative to size | 20 | |
| Pre-certifications | YES/NO | 10 | |
| Territorial impact of the value chain | YES/NO | 10 | |
| Open data | YES/NO | 10 | |
| Monitoring for climate and marine environment data | YES/NO | 10 | |
| CO-USES considerations | YES/NO | 10 | |
| MAX points | 200 |
| Documentation and requirements |
|---|
| Signed confidential agreement. |
| Project report: – Technical pre-project: plans, technical data. – Environmental impact study. Permissions applied and status – Technical-economic studies about the project impact. |
| Signed letter of expression of interest. |
GENERIC EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
This expression of interest in using the capabilities of the future PLEMCAT platform is open to any public or private entity within the R&D&I system. Those interested in utilising the capabilities of the future R&D&I platform for Marine Energies of Catalonia, PLEMCAT, must complete the form available in this space and submit, regarding the R&D&I actions or projects to be carried out, a confidentiality agreement (following the model available at this link) signed by the corresponding legal representative and a letter of expression of interest (in free format) signed by the corresponding legal representative, accompanied by a descriptive technical report detailing, as much as possible, the content of their project and how it could fit with PLEMCAT.
Interested parties must submit all the documentation indicated in the previous section no later than 10 March 2023, so that it can be analysed in due time and form.
This information will be treated with complete confidentiality and will serve the competent body for PLEMCAT management (PLEMCAT Commission of IREC) to consider, in the event that the PLEMCAT platform becomes operational and possesses the necessary capacities, whether they could be eligible candidates to utilise PLEMCAT.
FORM
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR FLOATING MARINE ENERGIES
Those interested in utilising the capabilities of the future R&D&I platform for Marine Energies of Catalonia, PLEMCAT, must complete the form available in this space and submit, regarding the R&D&I actions or projects to be carried out, a confidentiality agreement (following the model available at this link) signed by the corresponding legal representative and a letter of expression of interest (in free format) signed by the corresponding legal representative, accompanied by a descriptive technical report detailing, as comprehensively as possible, the content of their project, the estimated execution schedule, its level of maturity (including, where applicable, the current stage of processing), and how it could fit with PLEMCAT.
This information will be treated with complete confidentiality and will serve the competent body for PLEMCAT management (PLEMCAT Commission of IREC) to, applying the criteria published in this section, evaluate and provisionally classify the actions or proposals received. In the event that the interested party has all the necessary permits and authorisations for their action or proposal, and should the PLEMCAT platform become operational with sufficient evacuation capacity, it will be determined whether they could be eligible candidates to utilise PLEMCAT, once the corresponding process is completed according to the final classification resolution issued by the PLEMCAT Commission of IREC.
The timeline for the launch of the platform is dependent on the “RENMARINAS DEMOS” call by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, together with the IDAE, in its Subprogramme 1, to which PLEMCAT, as an R&D&I platform, is a candidate for grant funding. It is noted that the achievement and launch of this infrastructure, PLEMCAT, is subject to obtaining sufficient funding from Subprogramme 1 of the aforementioned call dedicated to R&D&I platforms and support from the Government of Catalonia, as well as obtaining all necessary administrative authorisations.
Parallel to the execution of the construction works and installation of the PLEMCAT infrastructure, initially scheduled for the second half of 2025, if all previously mentioned conditions are met, the competent body for PLEMCAT management will publish on this website the final criteria and requirements to regulate the use and operation of PLEMCAT, and the selection procedure for actions or projects, which, possessing all the necessary permits and authorisations, will be able to use PLEMCAT and utilise the platform’s capacities available at that time.
Interested parties who are applicants in Subprogramme 3 and/or Subprogramme 4 of the “RENMARINAS DEMOS” call, in compliance with the requirements outlined in the said call, must complete the form available at this link, expressly stating that they are applicants in Subprogramme 3 and/or Subprogramme 4, and submit all the documentation indicated in the first section of this text, no later than 10 March 2023, so that it can be analysed in due time and form, and receive a response from IREC by 17 March 2023, in accordance with the requirements of the “RENMARINAS DEMOS” call.
Those interested in utilising the capabilities of the future platform, who are not applicants for the “RENMARINAS DEMOS” call, must also follow the same procedure as described above.
FORM
PROVISIONAL RESOLUTION OF PROPOSALS
Resolution related to the Manifestation for Floating Marine Energies
In accordance with good governance and best practices, in this section, IREC will publish the provisional resolution issued by the PLEMCAT Commission of IREC with the provisional classification obtained for the received actions or proposals.
This provisional resolution issued by the PLEMCAT Commission of IREC with the final classification will be subject to compliance and validation of the administrative and financial requirements required for the classified interested parties’ actions or proposals, as well as the obtaining of subsidies from the Subprogram 1 of the mentioned call dedicated to R&D&I platforms, the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya, as well as the firm obtaining of all necessary corresponding administrative authorizations.
| Submit reference | Id. | No. Subprogram/ Nosubprogram | Score | Ranking order |
| 2 | 26590-2 | NO | 174.5 | 1 |
| 5/02 | 26590-5 | 3 | 170 | 2 |
| 1 | 26590-1 | 3 | 164.5 | 3 |
| 6 | 26590-6 | NO | 159.5 | 4 |
| 5/01 | 26590-5 | 3 | 157 | 5 |
| 3 | 26590-3 | 4 | 154.5 | 6 |
| 7 | 26590-7 | 3 | 107 | 7 |
| 2 | 26131-2 | NO | 0 | Submitted outside the time |
*Assignment of priority order linked to the different subprograms of the RENMANIRAS DEMOS call.
For more details, visit the link of the document “Provisional resolution of eligible candidates for the future PLEMCAT Platform“.
Appeal against the resolution to the Manifestation for Floating Marine Energies
Against the provisional resolution issued by the PLEMCAT Commission of IREC, an appeal may be lodged within a maximum period of 15 calendar days from the day following its publication. The complaint must be submitted via email to plemcat@irec.cat, using an “Exposition-Request” form addressed to IREC.
The resolution of the complaint by the PLEMCAT Commission of IREC will issue and notify the decision of the appeal, which will be duly justified, through the website https://www.irec.cat/research/strategic-initiatives/plemcat/ within a maximum period of 3 working days, starting from the day after the deadline for filing the complaint.
CALL FOR FINAL RESOLUTION OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDACIES FOR USE OF PLEMCAT
Call for final resolution of eligible candidacies for use of PLEMCAT
In accordance with the resolution of 21st July 2023, the application for aid for PLEMCAT (Subprogramme 1) has been accepted into the evaluation and selection phase of applications. This is in line with the Provisional Resolution Proposal from the Institute for Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía (IDAE), corresponding to the first call of the programme. This programme grants aid to investment in pilot projects, test platforms, and port infrastructures for marine renewables, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan financed by the European Union–Next GenerationEU (1st Call – RENMARINAS DEMOS Programme of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica together with the IDAE).
Given the deadlines and conditions set by the RENMARINAS DEMOS call, those interested in utilising the capabilities of the future R&D&I platform in Marine Energies of Catalonia, PLEMCAT, are requested to submit their candidacy no later than 31st August 2023. This can be done through the form found at the end of this section, attaching the technical documentation of the proposal (new or updated).
Once the received documentation has been reviewed, the updated provisional classification of eligible candidacies will be published in this section. Based on this classification, the PLEMCAT Evaluation Commission, which will convene at the beginning of September 2023, will issue a Final Resolution. This resolution will determine the eligible candidacies that will utilise the operational capacities, evacuation, and availability of space for the PLEMCAT platform once it is launched. This will be in accordance with the selection criteria that will be published in the “Final Resolution of Proposals” section.
The aforementioned availability for the use of the PLEMCAT platform by the classified candidacies, once it is launched, will be contingent upon the formalisation of the necessary financing. It will also depend on obtaining all the necessary administrative authorisations for the launching of the platform.
Eligible candidates submitting proposals for the first time must send, through the aforementioned form, a confidentiality agreement (as per the model available at this link) and a letter (in a free format) signed by the legal representative. This should be accompanied by a descriptive technical report detailing the content of their project, economic viability, estimated execution calendar, their degree of maturity (including, if applicable, the stage of processing they are at), and how it could align with PLEMCAT.
RESOLUTION OF THE FINAL CALL FOR FLOATING WIND TURBINE PROTOTYPE TESTING ON THE PLEMCAT PLATFORM
In line with good governance and best practices, IREC publishes the provisional resolution of the final call issued by the PLEMCAT Commission with the provisional precedence obtained from the proposals received.
This provisional resolution issued by the PLEMCAT Commission has been assessed following the technical criteria defined in the call, with a deadline for submitting applications on 31st August 2023.
The provisional order of precedence is as follows:
| Register/Submit Reference | Eligible candidates with submitted and accepted proposals | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Submit Reference 4 | HIVE WIND ENERGY, S.L. | 204.4 |
| Submit Reference: 10/2 | EXPONENTIAL RENEWABLES, S.L. | 199.92 |
| Submit Reference: 8 | ESTEYCO, S.A. | 191.4 |
| Submit Reference: 9 | Proyectos Renovables Innovadores, S.A. | 188.4 |
| Submit Reference: 6 | BREZO ENERGY, S.L. | 135 |
| Submit Reference: 7 | BREZO ENERGY, S.L. | 116 |
Against this provisional resolution, claims can be lodged from the day following its publication on the IREC website until 14:00 on 29th September 2023.
These deadlines have been adjusted in order to respond to the requirements for the fulfilment of the RENMARINAS DEMOS programme.
This provisional resolution proposal for the final call does not grant any rights in favour of the candidacy against PLEMCAT.
Additionally, companies that decide to withdraw or reject their application to notify us as soon as possible to facilitate the preparation of the definitive list.
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RESOLUTION OF THE FINAL CALL FOR FLOATING WIND TURBINE PROTOTYPE TESTING ON THE PLEMCAT PLATFORM
Resolution on the final assignment of positions for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Prototypes by selected companies in a test zone at the R&D&I Platform in Marine Energies of Catalonia (PLEMCAT). Update, July 2024.
Information is provided regarding the updated final assignment of positions for the floating offshore wind turbine prototypes by the selected companies in a test zone at the Marine Energy R&D Platform of Catalonia.
The document is available at the following link (in Catalan):
In accordance with the provisions of the Provisional Resolution of the Final Call for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Prototype Testing at the PLEMCAT Platform, released by IREC on 22nd September 2023, a designated period was set for the submission of representations, commencing the day following its publication on the IREC website and concluding at 14:00 on 29th September 2023.
In this section, the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) provides details on the Final Resolution of the Call for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine prototype testing at the PLEMCAT Platform. Following the period for submissions, a definitive order of precedence has been established for the selected proposals. This document reflects the review and selection process undertaken subsequent to the Provisional Resolution.
The complete document, with all details and the definitive list, is available for download at the following link:
GENERAL REGULATION FOR FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE PROTOTYPE TESTING AT THE PLEMCAT PLATFORM
General regulation for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine prototype testing at the PLEMCAT Platform (update, March 2024)
The PLEMCAT Commission reports on the update of the testing of floating offshore wind turbine prototypes at the R&D&I Platform in Marine Energies of Catalonia (PLEMCAT).
The updated document is available at the following link:
Publication: December 2023
The PLEMCAT Commission announce the latest update to the general regulations governing the testing of floating offshore wind turbine prototypes at the R&D&I Platform in Marine Energies of Catalonia (PLEMCAT). This revision is tailored to the current developmental phase of the platform, ensuring compliance with the guidelines specified in the definitive resolution of the call for prototype testing at PLEMCAT, dated 29th September 2023, and available on the PLEMCAT website.
To address the challenges in the ongoing development phase of the PLEMCAT platform, we have undertaken significant modifications to operational parameters. These adjustments aim to refine project execution in accordance with prevailing regulations, whilst also considering their impact on both management and operational costs. This is part of our commitment to enhancing viability and ensuring future optimal performance. Following these considerations, the PLEMCAT Commission has updated the existing regulatory framework. The revised document can be reviewed and downloaded using the following link:
The reference document can be downloaded via the following link:
ACTIVITIES & MEETINGS
Actions PLEMCAT | July 2024
| Dl | Dt | Dc | Dj | Dv | Ds | Ds |
| 1 | 2 Ventalló Meeting with municipal representatives | 3 | 4 | 5º | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 |
Actions PLEMCAT | June 2024
| Dl | Dt | Dc | Dj | Dv | Ds | Ds |
| º | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | 4 Armentera Time: 20 h. Place: Ajuntament | 5 | 6 Ventalló Time 19 h Place: Pavelló | 7 Vilaür Time: 19h. | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 Meeting with Agroxarxa-UP ————– Sant Mori Time: 19h. Place: Ajuntament | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 IREC participates in the XIV Festa del Vent | 19 Vilaür Individual meetings with owners | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
Informative sessions to explain the actions and details regarding the impact of the underground evacuation line of the PLEMCAT Platform to the affected areas, residents, and property owners:
- 4th June: Ventalló Town Hall at 8 pm.
- 6th June: Ventalló Pavilion at 7 pm.
- 7th June: Vilaür at 7 pm.
- 13th June: Sant Mori Town Hall at 7 pm.
- 17th June: L’Escala Town Hall.
- 19th June: Vilaür. Individual meetings to explain the project to the affected property owners.
Other meetings and activities:
- 13th June: Meeting with Agroxarxa-Unió de Pagesos at 1:30 pm in Girona.
- 18th June: IREC participates in the round table of the XIV Festa del Vent. Location: Col·legi d’Enginyers de Camins, Canals i Ports de Catalunya (C/ dels Vergós, 16, Barcelona).
- During the month of June, the following activities are carried out: terrestrial geotechnics, marine geophysics, and underwater archaeology.
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CONTACT
For any other inquiries related to PLEMCAT, please contact us through this form:
