SBM Offshore and Technip Energies have announced the formation of a joint venture entity called EkWiL through a memorandum of understanding. This new company aims to specialize in floating offshore wind (FOW) solutions, offering a wide array of services to clients.
EkWiL will leverage the combined expertise, engineering capabilities, and technological advancements of Technip Energies and SBM Offshore to provide integrated floating solutions and top-notch delivery offerings for the FOW market. This collaboration is expected to enhance execution certainty and cost competitiveness for innovative FOW projects.
Operating as a 50/50 joint venture, EkWiL will integrate the knowledge, innovation, and resources of both companies to develop leading-edge technologies, such as the Semi-submersible INO15 by T.ENTM and Tension Leg Platform Float4Wind®, covering various segments of the FOW market and transitioning them into commercial deployment.
Bruno Chabas, CEO of SBM Offshore, expressed the joint venture’s ambition to establish itself as a prominent contractor in developing floating offshore wind infrastructures. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in sustaining their ambitions while managing the pace of infrastructure development and addressing the challenging economics of these pioneering systems.
Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies, highlighted the necessity of collaboration to unlock the potential of the emerging FOW market. By capitalizing on synergies between complementary technologies and supply chain experience, EkWiL aims to meet market demand predictably and fulfill its goal of providing innovative energy solutions.
The completion of the joint venture is subject to customary procedures, including the satisfactory conclusion of due diligence, consultations with employee representative bodies, and obtaining all required regulatory approvals.