X1 Wind, a leading developer of innovative floating wind technology, has reached a major milestone with its X100 pre-commercial platform receiving a Statement of Compliance (SoC) for Basic Design from DNV, one of the world’s leading independent energy experts and certification bodies.

The certification was conducted according to the DNV-SE-0442 standard for the “Certification of floating wind turbines”. This independent endorsement confirms that the X100 design meets rigorous international safety, engineering, and technical requirements, providing a critical validation of the platform’s integrity and constructability.

Achieving Basic Design Certification is a pivotal step in X1 Wind’s roadmap. It confirms that the platform’s structural design, stability, and hydrodynamic behaviour—including its response to 500-years extreme waves, wind, and currents—are within safe and predictable limits. Under the scope of Basic Design Approval, DNV has verified the calculation methodologies used by X1 Wind, and the design of the platform, including the station-keeping system, the weathervaning structure, and the turbine integration of the X100 platform for a service life of 25 years. Crucially, this approval significantly accelerates the certification process for X1 Wind’s commercial-scale units. The company already has contracts in place for the scaled-up X150 version, suitable for 15-20MW turbines for major projects in Europe and Asia, using the same approved calculation methodologies established within the X100 certification.

Carlos Casanovas, CTO and Co-founder of X1 Wind, said:

“Completing Basic Design certification for the X100 platform is a major milestone for X1 Wind. It demonstrates that our innovative design meets the highest international standards whilst greatly reducing the costs of floating offshore wind. This independent validation is crucial for both technical assurance and for building trust with our partners and future clients, and it serves as a very strong basis for the certification of our commercial-size units. DNV is one of the most rigorous certification bodies in the sector, so we are particularly proud of this achievement.”

The X100 platform will be deployed at the PLEMCAT test site in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea as part of the NextFloat Project. Led by Technip Energies and X1 Wind, this EU-funded initiative aims to accelerate the industrialization of floating wind and substantially reduce its Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). It counts on the support of private capital, EU-funded projects NextFloat and NextFloat+, PAREF project funded by the French State as part of France 2030 operated by ADEME, and the Spanish Government program RenMarinas.

The X100 platform is designed for turbines of around 160m diameter (X100 stands for the hub height of 100m), with power ratings ranging from 6MW to up to 10MW depending on the specific site conditions. The pilot will operate in offshore conditions for several years, providing essential data to support final prototype certification and enable commercial-scale deployment and full-scale commercialization. X1 Wind’s technology combines the stability and low environmental impact of a Tension-Leg Platform (TLP) with the cost-efficiency of semi-submersible structures. This allows for a primary steel platform weight of approximately 1,500 tons, representing an estimated weight saving of 30% to 50% compared to traditional steel floaters installed in European pre-commercial projects of a similar scale.

Jaques Vendé, NextFloat Project Manager and Senior Project Manager at Technip Energies, added:

“We are proud to lead the NextFloat Project and partner with X1 Wind in this journey. The X100’s design certification reflects the robustness of its platform and the collaborative effort of all partners involved. It paves the way for a safe and efficient pre-commercial deployment in the Mediterranean Sea, and for the future of low-cost floating offshore wind.”

Claudio Bittencourt Ferreira, Project Manager – Renewables Certification at DNV, closed:

“The issue of a Statement of Compliance – Basic Design is an important milestone for X1 Wind’s X100 platform. It confirms compliance with the basic design requirements defined in DNV-SE-0422 – Certification of floating wind turbines and a well-defined and developed methodology for the prototype design and development”.

X1 Wind is a disruptive floating wind technology developer. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the firm’s mission is to provide highly scalable solutions which deliver clean, affordable energy while reducing carbon emissions across the globe. The company’s unique floating wind concept was initially developed by Carlos Casanovas in 2012 while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), before progressing with the patented technology for almost a decade. In recent years, X1 Wind has rapidly progressed its technology, having successfully executed several tank testing campaigns and completed the design, assembly, installation, and testing of a full-featured part-scale demonstrator in the Canary Islands. It has recently been selected by the European Commission to deliver the NextFloat and NextFloat+ projects, an ambitious program accelerating industrial-scale floating wind, together with Technip Energies and other industry-leading partners. The company has steadily been building a world-class team of experts in the offshore wind industry and related sectors.

X1 Wind, together with UPC and GEMIGEO, was awarded the “SAFE AND OPTIMISED ANCHORS IN MOORING SYSTEMS FOR TLP FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES – Next TLP” project by the Spanish State Research Agency, under the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain. This project marks an important step forward in advancing anchor design technology for Tension-Leg Platform (TLP) supported floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT).

Through a combination of large-scale demonstrations, anchor load monitoring, and offshore site investigations, we will develop simplified pre-dimensioning methods and a fast-track geotechnical investigation framework tailored to these systems. By integrating measured and simulated data, the project will deliver open-access databases, advanced simulation tools, and validated methodologies to optimize anchor performance under both ultimate loads and fatigue.

The Next TLP project focuses on optimising anchor design for floating offshore wind platforms based on Tension-Leg Platform (TLP) mooring systems. By gaining a better understanding of how anchors perform in real offshore conditions, the project supports safer, more efficient, and more reliable floating wind solutions.

The project addresses several key areas essential for the development of floating offshore wind:

• Understanding the forces that floating wind platforms apply to their anchors
• Analyzing real-world data from large-scale offshore demonstration projects
• Assessing how different seabed conditions influence anchor performance
• Developing practical and simplified approaches for anchor sizing and design

In parallel, Next TLP works on improving offshore investigation methods specifically adapted to floating wind needs:

• Advancing seabed investigation techniques tailored to TLP floating platforms
• Creating faster and more standardized approaches to assess seabed conditions at new sites

The project will deliver tools, data, and methodologies that can be directly applied by the industry:

• Reliable data on anchor loads across different platform sizes and environmental conditions
• Measured offshore data from ongoing floating wind demonstration projects
• An digital simulation tool to support anchor design and performance assessment
• Improved models showing anchor behavior under varying seabed conditions
• New and tested equipment to measure seabed properties directly offshore
• Expanded geotechnical data from Spanish offshore sites relevant to floating wind development
• Proven methodologies to enable faster and more accurate site assessments for TLP mooring systems

Overall, the Next TLP project marks a significant leap in delivering safer, more efficient, and cost-effective anchoring solutions for the next generation of TLP floating offshore wind platforms, including X1 Wind’s innovative PivotBuoy technology.

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The “SAFE AND OPTIMISED ANCHORS IN MOORING SYSTEMS FOR TLP FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES – Next TLP” project is funded by the Spanish State Research Agency and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain.

Through Innvierte, CDTI Innovación has closed an investment operation in X1 WIND along with CLUB RG 14, S.L., with a total amount of €405,000. Thanks to this participation, CDTI Innovación helps to tackle the climate challenge by supporting the marine renewable energy sector.

X1 WIND is a technology-based company developing intelligent solutions to address the challenges of the energy revolution and drastically minimize its environmental impact. Its technology is the result of more than 20 years of experience in the offshore renewable energies sector. X1 WIND has created a self-orienting floating design that reduces weight and cuts installation and maintenance costs, making floating wind competitive.

The company has attracted top-level talent from diverse backgrounds. Its team includes respected professionals in wind energy, mechanical, electrical, structural, aeronautical and naval engineering, as well as strategy and business consulting.

Club RG 14 is a Spanish company, based in Barcelona, whose main corporate purpose is to act as a holding company, managing other companies and participating in credit activities. It invests in various sectors, including real estate and energy.

Innvierte is an initiative whose aim is to promote business innovation via venture capital investment in technology-based or innovative companies. This program is carried out through the closed collective investment company Innvierte Economía Sostenible SICC S.M.E., S.A., which is self-managed and supervised by the Spanish National Securities Market Commission, and of which CDTI Innovación is the sole shareholder.

To date, CDTI Innovación has committed €2,661 million across 61 investment vehicles that have invested in more than 622 companies, and through its co-investment line it has directly committed €723 million in 190 companies.

Innvierte is part of the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2021-2027, approved by agreement of the Council of Ministers in September 2020. This Strategy sets the objectives, reforms and measures to be adopted throughout the R&D&I (research, development & innovation) area to boost its growth and impact, and is one of the pillars supporting the government’s R&D&I policy design for the coming years.

The Centre for the Development of Technological and Innovation (CDTI E.P.E.) is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose goal is to promote technological innovation within the business sector. CDTI’s mission is to ensure the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific-technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2024, under a new strategic plan, CDTI provided more than €2,300 million in support to Spanish companies and startups.

X1 Wind’s PivotBuoy technology has been granted the 2025 Merit Award at the TERA Awards, jointly organized by Towngas, a leading Hong Kong utility company, and Full Vision Capital, a private family office investing in climate-tech and clean energy ventures. The prize was presented on July 18th, during the 4th edition of the TERA Awards held at the University of Cambridge.

The TERA Awards aim to foster the growth of a green economy by identifying and supporting pioneering technologies that will shape the future of smart energy. The competition provides finalists with access to investment opportunities and expert resources, helping them turn innovation into impactful commercial solutions.

Out of more than 780 applications from over 75 countries, X1 Wind was honored with one of the distinctions. This recognition followed a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, which included screening, expert interviews, and a final assessment by an international jury. The award highlighted X1 Wind’s technological floating wind innovation, commercial potential, and strong alignment with the smart energy vision championed by the TERA Awards.

The 2025 TERA Awards covered a wide range of categories, including renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, carbon neutrality, smart cities, and digital innovation. Among these fields, X1 Wind stood out as the only company recognized in the floating offshore wind sector, a testament to the uniqueness and relevance of its solution within the industry and the global energy transition.

The PivotBuoy technology represents a disruptive breakthrough in the floating wind sector. This platform combines a Single Point Mooring (SPM) system with a downwind turbine configuration and a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) mooring system, enabling operations in deeper waters with a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly design.

Among its main advantages is a significant reduction in structural costs, thanks to a design that allows for considerable weight savings. This translates into reduced steel usage and a more stable structure that can be easily towed by local vessels, simplifying installation logistics and reducing supply chain bottlenecks. Additionally, the TLP mooring system minimizes the seabed footprint, reducing environmental impact and allowing for better coexistence with other marine activities such as fishing. Altogether, these features contribute to a substantial reduction in the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), making floating offshore wind more competitive with a lower environmental impact.

The technology was successfully validated in 2022 through the deployment of a part-scale functional prototype in the Canary Islands, becoming the first fully operational floating wind platform of its kind (TLP) in the world. It is now entering the commercial scaling phase through the European NextFloat project, which will involve the deployment of a pre-commercial platform in the Catalan Mediterranean Sea.

Carlos Casanovas, CTO and Co-founder of X1 Wind, received the award and shared his thoughts on this milestone:

“We are truly honored to receive the Merit Award from the TERA Awards. I would like to thank Towngas and Full Vision Capital for recognizing the potential of our PivotBuoy technology. This is a meaningful step forward, and we hope it will be the first of many collaborations that allow us to bring our floating wind innovation to Asia and beyond. At X1 Wind, we are committed to accelerating the clean energy transition not only by drastically reducing the costs of floating offshore wind, but also by doing so with the least possible impact on the environment.”

The Department of Business and Labour, through Avançsa, has signed an agreement with X1 Wind, a company dedicated to developing floating offshore wind technology, as part of Avançsa’s Extraordinary Projects Line.

Carlos Casanovas and Alex Raventós, co-founders of the company, established it in 2017, bringing over 20 years of experience in the marine renewable energy sector. Since then, they have rapidly advanced their technology, attracted private investment, and received multiple awards, recognition, and financial support from leading organisations such as InnoEnergy, the H2020 programme, the EIC Accelerator, CDTI, ENISA, and ACCIÓ.

X1 Wind’s project is generating significant ecosystem impact by creating high-skilled jobs in Catalonia, fostering local supplier development, and delivering environmental benefits through its renewable energy potential. This agreement helps promote strategic industrial autonomy, enhances the international visibility of Catalan companies, strengthens business resilience, and provides industrial value chains with greater internal capacity.

The agreement is part of a broader €3 million operation and is activated through a €550,000 convertible loan. The Catalan Energy Institute also participated in the operation.

“X1 Wind’s project represents a clear bet on the future of our industry and a sustainable, innovative energy transition. Supporting initiatives like this aligns with our Catalonia Lidera strategy—a national strategy that prioritises transformative projects with global impact and strong local roots.”, claimed Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Labour.

X1 Wind’s solution is embodied in the PivotBuoy system—an innovative floating platform combining a lightweight tripod-like design with a single point mooring system. This optimises the floating structure by reducing material use by 40% and minimising seabed impact thanks to vertical mooring lines that avoid dragging and noise typical of catenary systems, while also enabling deployment in deeper waters.

With a focus on becoming a technology and service provider, the company has achieved key milestones such as validating its technology in various labs, demonstrating its first PivotBuoy project in the Canary Islands through the PLOCAN (Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands) pilot, and securing funding for the development of the NextFloat project within PLEMCAT (Catalonia’s R&D&I Platform for Marine Energies), which will enable deployment and testing of the first pre-commercial unit in the Mediterranean Sea.

Alliances like that between Avançsa and X1 Wind demonstrate the potential to strengthen Catalonia’s ecosystem and consolidate its business and economic fabric through investment attraction and job creation.

Alex Raventos, CEO of X1 Wind, express his gratitude towards the Government support: “We are grateful for Avançsa’s trust in the X1 Wind project, a sign of our shared commitment to technological innovation, talent development, and contributing to the energy transition in Catalonia and Europe within a global context.”

X1 Wind has been awarded as the Sustainable SME of the Year 2025 in Barcelona as part of the 9th edition of the “SME of the Year 2025” awards, jointly organized by Banco Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. The award ceremony took place on June 26 at Banco Santander’s headquarters.

The “SME of the Year” Awards recognize the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in generating employment and driving local economic development. In addition to the main SME of the Year award, four special mentions (accésits) are granted in the categories of Internationalization, Digitalization and Innovation, Training and Employment, and Sustainability.

The Sustainable SME 2025 accésit, awarded to X1 Wind, honors companies that embed sustainability into their business strategy, with an emphasis on initiatives such as promoting diversity, continuous training, environmental responsibility, strong ethical governance, and active community engagement.

As the winner of this award in Barcelona, X1 Wind will now compete for the National Sustainable SME of the Year 2025 award, to be announced in the first quarter of 2026. The other regional winners in each category will also be eligible for the corresponding national awards.

X1 Wind places environmental sustainability at the core of its technology. Its innovative floating wind platform, the PivotBuoy, features a tension-leg platform (TLP) mooring system that significantly reduces seabed impact and occupies up to 55 times less surface than traditional catenary mooring systems, enabling coexistence with other marine activities such as fishing. Additionally, its lightweight structure requires less steel and is designed to be towed by small or medium-sized local vessels, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.

This environmental commitment extends to its day-to-day operations. At its offices in Barcelona and Tafalla, the company has implemented a carbon footprint reduction plan focused on sustainable procurement and responsible travel. At project level, X1 Wind applies the GHG Protocol and has developed an Environmental Emergency Plan. In parallel, it fosters an inclusive work environment through active policies on gender equality, work-life balance, and professional development, with a culturally and generationally diverse team.

True to its Code of Ethics, X1 Wind also strengthens its social impact by collaborating with organizations such as the CRAM Foundation and L’Economat Social, while prioritizing suppliers aligned with its social and environmental values. In 2025, the company expanded its CSR strategy to explore new volunteering opportunities and further deepen its engagement with the community.

Carlos Casanovas, CTO and co-founder of X1 Wind, accepted the award and shared his appreciation:

“We would like to thank Banco Santander, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, La Vanguardia, and the jury for this recognition. This award is a strong endorsement of the collective effort we’ve made to build a more responsible, diverse, and community-driven company. X1 Wind was founded with sustainability at its core, and we work every day to ensure that commitment is reflected not only in what we develop but in how we operate, grow, and contribute to society. We will continue working with the same conviction to create a positive impact in everything we do.”

X1 Wind’s PivotBuoy technology has been awarded the 2025 “Premi EmErgEnt” in the “Product” category by the Clúster de l’Energia Eficient de Catalunya (CEEC). The prize was presented on June 19th during the 12th edition of the “Nit de l’Eficiència” (Efficiency Night), held at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC).

The EmErgEnt Awards recognise startups and entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions for efficient energy management in Catalonia. In the “Product” category, the awards highlight pre-commercial technologies and prototypes with high potential for scalability and market impact.

After evaluating criteria such as originality, strategic alignment with the CEEC, technological innovation, commercial potential, business model, and team excellence, the jury selected PivotBuoy as the winner.

The PivotBuoy technology represents a disruptive breakthrough in the floating wind sector. This platform combines a Single Point Mooring (SPM) system with a downwind turbine configuration and a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) mooring system, enabling operations in deeper waters with a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly design.

Among its main advantages is a significant reduction in structural costs, thanks to a design that allows for considerable weight savings. This translates into reduced steel usage and a more stable structure that can be easily towed by local vessels, simplifying installation logistics and reducing supply chain bottlenecks. Additionally, the TLP mooring system minimizes the seabed footprint, reducing environmental impact and allowing for better coexistence with other marine activities such as fishing. Altogether, these features contribute to a substantial reduction in the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), making floating offshore wind more competitive with a lower environmental impact.

The technology was successfully validated in 2022 through the deployment of a part-scale functional prototype in the Canary Islands, becoming the first fully operational floating wind platform of its kind (TLP) in the world. It is now entering the commercial scaling phase through the European NextFloat project, which will involve the deployment of a pre-commercial platform in the Catalan Mediterranean Sea.

Carlos Casanovas, CTO and Co-founder of X1 Wind, received the award and expressed his excitement about the next steps for the technology:

“I want to express my gratitude to the cluster and, of course, to the jury for this award. We are especially thankful to the more than fifty Catalan entities that have unconditionally supported us since the beginning of the project in the Canary Islands and continue to do so; without their help, we would not have gotten this far. Finally, we extend our gratitude to the different administrations, both at the autonomous and state level, for their firm support of the NextFloat project in Plemcat. We hope that it will soon be a reality, and we can see it materialized.”

X1 Wind has signed an MoU with market-leading mooring line manufacturer – and developer of the world’s strongest cables – FibreMax to boost performance, innovation and sustainability in the floating wind energy sector.

X1 Wind’s disruptive floating wind solution benefits from passive weathervaning and self-orientation capabilities, achieved through the integration of a Single Point Mooring (SPM) system with a small tension leg platform (TLP) mooring system.

The Spanish firm is making rapid progress developing its pre-commercial and commercial units, while its earlier X30 device was recognised as the world’s first fully functional floating wind TLP (Tension Leg Platform) to export electricity.

One of the key benefits of X1 Wind’s TLP is the vertical mooring tendons which ensure a small seabed footprint, enhancing compatibility with other marine activities, like fishing, while also allowing for a larger number of platforms to be placed within a given offshore area – increasing energy capacity. 

The latest collaboration with FibreMax will now explore opportunities to boost performance and sustainability of its mooring configuration with the introduction of synthetic cables, with improved strength, durability, low-weight and no-creep characteristics. Crafted with circular or recyclable materials, FibreMax cables will further enhance the floating wind platform’s green credentials.

Established in 2009, FibreMax is a trailblazing force in the cable industry, and the exclusive creator of the ‘endlessly wound’ cable, boasting unparalleled strength and durability. The firm’s cutting-edge robots expertly wind synthetic fibres around the integrated end-terminations, delivering a cable that is 85% lighter than steel, rust-resistant, maintenance-free, and built to last more than 30 years.

X1 Wind CEO Alex Raventos said the MoU represents a significant step forward in the development of advanced, sustainable solutions for the floating offshore wind industry.

“Partnering with major supply chain manufacturers like FibreMax is of the utmost importance for X1 Wind, as it enables us to design our floating solution with state-of-the-art components and materials that can be mass produced, in this case specifically for our TLP tendons. This MoU not only strengthens our commitment to advancing floating offshore wind technology but also opens new possibilities for innovation and sustainability together with FibreMax.”

FibreMax Director Renewable Energy Sander van Helvoort said the MoU with X1 Wind is an important milestone and FibreMax is very proud to support X1 Wind on their road to commercialising. 

“FibreMax is thrilled about this partnership, as we have built a strong relationship with X1 Wind over the past few years. We are now taking the next step to collaborate even more closely. Both companies are fully committed to advancing innovation, circularity, industrialization, and global supply chain development, with a shared vision that aligns perfectly for FibreMax and X1 Wind.” 

X1 Wind, a developer of floating wind technology, has officially opened a new office in Navarra, which will be responsible for designing and implementing electrical, communication, and control systems for floating wind platforms.

The new offices will primarily host X1 Wind’s electrical department, which includes five electrical engineers led by Adrián Oliva, Electrical & SCADA Manager. Additionally, the offices will include an industrial engineer from the operations department.

Adrián Oliva stated, “The opening of this workspace in Tafalla not only strengthens our commitment to technological innovation but also allows us to leverage local talent and closely collaborate with regional companies to drive the development of floating wind power. At X1 Wind, we are firmly committed to this center as our entire division of Electrical Engineering, Control and  Instrumentation Engineering, Communications Engineering, and SCADA will be developed entirely in the Comunidad Foral.”

The company has chosen Navarra due to its strategic national position and extensive experience in wind energy, with over 50 operational wind farms, mostly onshore.

Located in Tafalla, the new offices will facilitate X1 Wind’s interactions with both public and private entities in the Comunidad Foral for the development of floating offshore wind projects.

X1 Wind’s establishment in the Comunidad Foral has been supported by Sodena, a public entity under the Government of Navarra responsible for attracting investments from outside Navarra.

Alex Raventos, CEO of X1 Wind, expressed, “The opening of our new office in Navarra represents another step forward for the advancement of floating wind power in Spain. This center will not only allow us to collaborate closely with local companies and leverage the vast wind energy experience of the region but also foster the creation of high-quality jobs in areas where such opportunities are typically scarce. We are excited about the support received from the Government of Navarra and Sodena and trust that this alliance will strengthen our goal of promoting technological innovation and energy transition.”

Currently, X1 Wind’s team in Navarra is expanding the network of local companies to collaborate on platform testing, equipment supply, and custom electrical cabinet manufacturing.

Iñaki Larraya Garayalde, Managing Director of Sodena, commented, “The establishment of X1 Wind in Navarra is excellent news as it reinforces the industrial renewable energy sector historically supported by Sodena, which continues to be a priority for this public entity.”

In alignment with this initiative, since 2022, the Government of Navarra has been committed to the political declaration of the “Arco Atlántico de la Conferencia de Regiones Periféricas y Marítimas (CRPM)”. This declaration includes a commitment to promoting offshore wind energy, simplifying project procedures, and facilitating access to funding for R&D projects in this field. Additionally, it proposes creating a macro-region to strengthen this governance structure and urge the Council to grant a mandate to the European Commission for its development.

X1 Wind is a disruptive floating wind technology developer. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the firm’s mission is to provide highly scalable solutions which deliver clean, affordable energy while reducing carbon emissions across the globe. The company’s unique floating wind concept was initially developed by Carlos Casanovas in 2012 while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), before progressing with the patented technology for almost a decade. In recent years, X1 Wind has rapidly progressed its technology, having successfully executed several tank testing campaigns and completed the design, assembly, installation and testing of a full-featured part-scale demonstrator in the Canary Islands. It has recently been selected by the European Commission to deliver the NextFloat and NextFloat+ projects, an ambitious program accelerating industrial-scale floating wind, together with Technip Energies and other industry leading partners. The company has steadily been building a world-class team of experts in the offshore wind industry and related sectors.