{"id":17531,"date":"2026-08-07T12:40:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T10:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esteyco.com\/?p=17531"},"modified":"2026-08-07T13:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T11:08:15","slug":"wheel-secures-prior-administrative-authorization-for-plocan-deployment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.esteyco.com\/en\/energy\/off-shore\/wheel-secures-prior-administrative-authorization-for-plocan-deployment\/","title":{"rendered":"WHEEL Secures Prior Administrative Authorization for PLOCAN Deployment"},"content":{"rendered":"

As prototype construction progresses at the Port of Las Palmas, ESTEYCO has secured Prior Administrative Authorization for the installation of WHEEL<\/a> and its power evacuation infrastructure. This regulatory milestone paves the way for the prototype\u2019s deployment and subsequent grid connection.<\/p>\n

The Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines granted ESTEYCO the authorization to install the 6 MW WHEEL floating offshore wind prototype at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN<\/a>) test site, off the coast of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.<\/p>\n

The permit also covers the power evacuation infrastructure, which features a 3-kilometer, 20 kV subsea cable. This cable will connect WHEEL to ESTEYCO\u2019s ELICAN<\/a> prototype, routing the generated electricity to the Jin\u00e1mar substation via existing electrical infrastructure.<\/p>\n

This approval represents a major step forward in the project\u2019s permitting process, following a favorable environmental impact assessment and authorization from the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) for installation at PLOCAN.<\/p>\n

Designed to Leverage Existing Port Infrastructure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

WHEEL technology aims to prove that floating offshore wind platforms can be built efficiently within standard port areas without requiring costly infrastructure upgrades.<\/p>\n

Its compact design streamlines manufacturing, assembly, and float-out operations within the port. Once deployed, the platform functions as a spar\u2014combining the supply-chain advantages of a compact build with the operational stability of traditional spar designs.<\/p>\n

In doing so, WHEEL integrates an optimized design for industrialization and installation with high-level operational performance in a single system.<\/p>\n

The insights gained during the construction phase in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are key to validating the supply chain, manufacturing processes, and the technology\u2019s capacity for commercial-scale production.<\/p>\n

Through this pilot project, ESTEYCO positions WHEEL at the forefront of floating offshore wind innovation, advancing its path toward becoming a competitive, scalable solution for the commercial market.<\/p>\n