The Catalan startup Optimized Generators (OptiGen) has created a lighter and more cost-effective offshore wind energy generator than existing solutions. The emerging company is taking its first step toward developing a 15 MW direct-drive turbine —an industry standard— that improves the functionality and costs of generators currently available on the market.
To develop its technology, OptiGen has received support from the Catalan Government through ACCIÓ —the agency for business competitiveness under the Department of Enterprise and Labor— via a €100,000 grant from the Startup Capital program, designed to support the growth of early-stage technological and deep tech companies. Additionally, the company has received guidance from the Intellectual and Industrial Property Protection Service to patent its device and technology.
The Catalan startup aimed to address a key challenge in the wind energy sector: the offshore wind turbines currently used are heavy and expensive. To solve this, they developed their own technology by creating a drivetrain that reduces costs compared to existing designs. OptiGen’s technology, currently in the patenting process, also positively impacts operational costs by offering easier inspection and repair of its components.
The most significant innovation of OptiGen’s turbine is the elimination of the main bearings that support the rotor. Instead, a system of wheels and rails is used, reducing the stiffness of the support structures while ensuring generator stability under any operating condition.
In the next phase, OptiGen will test its wind turbine in laboratory trials to confirm the mechanical feasibility of the system. The startup plans to carry out a first test at the end of 2025 and another in the summer of the following year. The project also includes an environmental impact assessment, as well as life cycle and social impact studies. Once these phases are completed, they plan to design two additional solutions for higher capacities of 22 MW and up to 30 MW.
For this first design, the Catalan startup has collaborated with other international companies and institutions as part of the Lightwind Project, which has received funding under Horizon Europe. OptiGen leads a consortium of eight partners from six European countries, including research centers such as the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, the TNO in the Netherlands, and the wind engineering firm DIS Creadis, which has centers in Poland and Denmark and a presence in Barcelona.
Founded in 2023 in Barcelona, OptiGen has a team of six people and a founding team with over 40 years of experience in the wind sector. The company plans to announce a pre-seed funding round soon to continue financing its growth.
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