BW Ideol

BW Ideol operates as a specialized developer and technology provider in the floating offshore wind sector. The company was established in 2010 by Paul de la Guérivière and was originally named Ideol. A significant milestone occurred in February 2021 when BW Offshore, a global provider of floating production services to the oil and gas industry, became a strategic investor, leading to the company's rebranding as BW Ideol and its subsequent listing on Euronext Growth Oslo the following month. This partnership integrated Ideol's floating wind technology expertise with BW Offshore's extensive maritime and project execution experience. Paul de la Guérivière, the founder and current CEO, has a background that includes co-founding and managing multiple companies in the renewable energy and naval construction industries, such as PRINCIPIA, a company specializing in engineering for the offshore and naval sectors. His experience in naval architecture and offshore engineering directly informs the company's core technological development.

The firm's business model is twofold, encompassing roles as both a co-developer of floating wind farm projects and a direct technology and engineering services provider to other developers. As a project co-developer, BW Ideol engages in the entire lifecycle of a floating wind farm, from initial development and financing through to construction and operation, thereby securing long-term revenue streams. In its capacity as a technology provider, the company licenses its patented Damping Pool® floating foundation technology to clients, which include utilities and energy companies venturing into offshore wind. This dual-stream approach allows the company to capture value across different stages of the offshore wind market.

The core offering is the Damping Pool® foundation, a ring-shaped, barge-like structure made of concrete or steel that supports the wind turbine. Its key feature is an open-to-the-sea central pool that mitigates wave-induced motions, enhancing the stability and performance of the turbine. This design is engineered to be compatible with standard port infrastructure for construction, reducing logistical complexity and costs. The technology has been demonstrated through two full-scale projects: the Floatgen demonstrator in France, operational since 2018, and the Hibiki project in Japan, which began operations in 2019. These projects serve as crucial validation of the foundation's durability and performance in real-world marine environments, positioning it as a credible solution for the commercial-scale deployment of floating wind farms.

Keywords: floating wind, offshore energy, renewable technology, project development, wind turbine foundation, Damping Pool, naval architecture, energy infrastructure, Floatgen, green energy