Jean-Philippe Touzanne appointed Offshore Wind Technical Director at GDG

Specialist engineering and design consultancy, Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions (GDG), a Venterra Group company, is delighted to announce the appointment of leading industry expert, Jean-Phillipe Touzanne, to lead its floating offshore wind activities.

Jean-Phillipe has more than 15 years of experience working in offshore structures, with the last 11 years dedicated to offshore wind. Prior to joining GDG, he was Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technical Officer of CETEAL, a subsidiary of Mareal, where he played a pivotal role in leading the company’s commercial activities and supporting their technical teams. He holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering from The National Engineering School of Tarbes, France.

Floating offshore wind, as opposed to fixed-bottom, is attractive because of its ability to access wind energy in deeper waters beyond 60m, expanding the geographical scope for wind farm installations and tapping into 80% of global offshore wind resources. It capitalises on stronger and more consistent winds, making it more efficient and can reduce the visible impact from the coast. Deployable in areas with limited shallow waters, it’s crucial for markets like Spain, Japan, Norway and the U.S. West Coast. Despite challenges, ongoing efforts to address costs and risks make floating offshore wind a key player and possibly a more attractive option in the industry’s sustainable future. Building upon GDG’s existing experience in floating wind, especially on recent projects off the Californian coast, Jean-Philippe and his team will address the challenges required to mature the technologies for large-scale deployment.

“Jean-Philippe’s engineering capabilities, innovation and deep understanding of industry and client needs will be an invaluable asset to our team as we continue to drive advances in floating offshore wind developments. GDG and the wider Venterra Group recognise the need to scale up activities in this area, with a particular focus on industrialisation and standardisation of the floating wind supply chain. We look forward to supporting developers, technology suppliers, and the wider supply chain in their ambition to reach our global floating ambition.”

Dr Indrasenan Thusyanthan, Managing Director, GDG

For over a decade, GDG has provided specialist engineering consultancy to the floating wind sector, including technological reviews, hydrodynamic modelling, naval architecture, engineering design and commercial and advisory support. All of these activities will now be coordinated under the direction of Jean-Philippe.

"I am delighted to be a part of GDG at this exciting time for floating offshore wind. The area of floating offshore wind is evolving rapidly, transitioning from research and development to a high level of readiness. With numerous demonstration projects in progress and initial commercial developments underway, floating wind is gaining significant momentum in the global market. GDG's commitment to innovation and their ambitious approach to offshore renewable energy align perfectly with where the market is going. I'm looking forward to supporting the floating offshore wind team, contributing to GDG's continued and remarkable growth, and playing a key role in expanding the GDG service within the wider international market."

Jean-Phillipe Touzanne, Technical Director for Floating Offshore Wind, GDG