As the first offshore wind project in Colombia to be granted pre-feasibility status, Vientos Alisios would require innovation and collaboration to get off the ground. After releasing their Roadmap for the Deployment of Offshore Wind Energy in 2022 that highlights Colombia’s suitability for the renewable energy source, the Colombian government announced Vientos Alisios, a 28 bottom-fixed turbine offshore wind farm with a 500 MW grid connection. According to the roadmap, the country has approximately 50 GW of potential offshore wind capacity, and Vientos Alisios represents the first concrete step toward the nation’s goals.
Arup partnered with BlueFloat Energy, leveraging our multidisciplinary engineering skills and local presence to develop a feasibility study for the project, which will be located 20 miles off the coast of Barranquilla. Our team supported BlueFloat’s investment decisions and environmental impact assessments through the development of technical documentation. From resource data review, site characterization, energy yield analysis, geotechnical surveys, offshore cable routing, offshore and maritime engineering, and wind turbine and foundation selection, the team provided a solid engineering foundation to support the project’s continued progress.
Offshore wind can reduce emissions and increase energy capacity, and the latest technology represents a tremendous opportunity for Colombia. The country’s roadmap and its ambitious targets set them apart as a leader in Latin America, and we look forward to supporting them on this journey.
Engineering to turn concept into reality
Through multidisciplinary engineering services and visionary solutions, Arup helped to prove that the ambitious and unprecedented 500 MW offshore wind farm off the coast of Cartagena was feasible. The comprehensive technical documentation and rigorous analysis provided BlueFloat Energy with a solid foundation to face the auction process and prove the project’s competitiveness and potential for further development.
Arup provided a range of services including site feasibility assessments informed by both existing and new data. Our team also reviewed the wind resource study of the proposed site and detailed seabed condition study, leveraging our in-house digital tools to guarantee accuracy. Through these analyses, we identified insights critical to determining which turbines and foundations would maximize performance and cost savings.
Beyond site due diligence, Arup designed a robust and efficient power transmission system and an electrical export system. We performed an optioneering design, including both offshore and onshore components while evaluating potential cable routes and typologies.
The project demanded tailored solutions to address local, technical challenges while working within environmental and logistical constraints. Simultaneously, the project demanded innovative and creative thinking as the country’s most advanced offshore wind project to date. As such, our local presence and knowledge combined with our global expertise in offshore wind enabled our team to serve as an effective partner and advocate for the nation’s ambitious goals.
What we delivered
Multidisciplinary engineering studies and assessments to realize Colombia’s massive offshore wind potential
Technical solutions that reduce carbon emissions while increasing Colombia’s energy capacity and resilience
Innovative designs that will serve as the groundwork for future offshore wind projects
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