Albatross Technology is developing a floating-axis vertical-axis offshore wind turbine (FAWT) and associated small floating platforms. The FAWT design targets deployment in strong offshore winds with reduced equipment and O&M costs, positioning it as a potential game-changer for floating wind. The company emphasizes nearly all domestic manufacturing and procurement and a nearly 100% reuse/recycle design to cut lifecycle carbon emissions and boost domestic economic impact. Design work for both the turbine and floater is underway, and the firm plans to install a small machine offshore in fiscal 2024 to begin verification for larger units. Albatross received a NEDO subsidy in 2022 and is conducting turbine-efficiency analysis under a technology R&D project. Albatross Technology develops a Floating Axis Wind Turbine (FAWT), a rotating cylindrical float that supports a vertical-axis wind rotor and uses seawater as a simple bearing to reduce cost and complexity. The FAWT design tolerates up to a 20-degree tilt and targets lower manufacturing and maintenance costs compared with conventional floating turbines. The company emphasizes 100% domestic procurement for turbine components and is exploring carbon-fiber composite continuous-pull manufacturing methods. It conducts joint research with J-Power's Chigasaki Research Institute and Osaka University, and collaborates with the ICC at Kanazawa Institute of Technology. Manufacturing partners for the small demonstrator include Fukui Fibertech (blade/composite production) and Mirai Zosen (float construction). Albatross plans to use the recently raised funds to design and build a sub-20 kW small offshore experimental unit and begin sea trials in fiscal 2024.

Total raised

$4M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Dec 2023