01.12.25

Ekwil is pleased to announce that its Float4Wind™ tension-leg platform (TLP) has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK. This confirmation follows a detailed assessment of the updated design and represents an important milestone in the development of Ekwil’s TLP technology.

The AiP verifies the Float4Wind™ design complies with the normative reference NKRE-GL-FOWT01 “Guidelines for Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Structures” and meets the necessary safety and engineering principles for future commercial floating wind developments. The AiP, which included an assessment of seismic conditions, confirms that the platform has achieved a level of maturity suitable for industrial deployment.

“Achieving this AiP marks a key milestone for Ekwil and showcases the engineering excellence delivered by our teams,” said Julien Prieur, Head of Products. “It underscores the robustness of the Float4Wind™ design and provides confidence as we advance the development of our TLP solution for future projects.”

Float4Wind™ is part of Ekwil’s portfolio of floating wind foundations and is designed to deliver low-motion performance with a compact mooring footprint, making it particularly suitable for deeper waters.

The evolution of the Float4Wind™ concept reflects the experience gained during the French Provence Grand Large pilot project — the world’s first TLP floating wind farm built on Ekwil’s technology and installed offshore Fos-sur-Mer since 2023. The insights from this project have contributed to key improvements in constructability, design optimization, and preparation for future scaling. 

The ClassNK AiP supports Float4Wind™ as a credible foundation option for upcoming floating wind tenders and feasibility studies. It contributes to ongoing work aimed at ensuring TLP solutions can complement other floater types in meeting the diverse requirements of global offshore wind markets, including the Japanese market. 

About ClassNK 

ClassNK is a leading independent classification society based in Japan, providing technical assessments, certifications and safety standards for offshore and maritime structures. An Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK confirms that a concept’s design principles comply with applicable rules and are suitable for further development. 

About Float4Wind™ 

Float4Wind™ is Ekwil’s proprietary TLP design developed to offer unique motion performance that closely mimics fixed foundation parameters. The design of Float4Wind™ tension-leg platform uses components already incorporated in bottom-fixed solutions. This means that components are already industrialized with existing manufacturing capacity and infrastructure, offering shorter execution planning to production timescales. 

About Ekwil 

Ekwil is a 50/50 joint venture between Technip Energies and SBM Offshore focused on floating offshore wind solutions. Combining decades of offshore expertise, Ekwil provides a full range of floating wind foundation technologies supported by engineering, procurement, construction, and installation capabilities.