Explore RCAM Technologies’ innovative, 3D concrete-printed suction anchors, designed for floating offshore wind. These groundbreaking anchors are just one of many innovative concrete products being developed by RCAM to shape the future of renewable energy infrastructure. Image credit: Joshua Bauer, Berani Designs
LOS ANGELES, CA – RCAM Technologies, an industry-leading provider of three-dimensional (3D) concrete-printed solutions dedicated to offshore renewable energy, has signed a deal to purchase a state-of-the-art gantry robot system, the CyBe GR, from CyBe Construction, a front-runner in the field of 3D concrete printing technologies. By harnessing the groundbreaking capabilities of the CyBe GR, RCAM is set to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy by slashing costs and drastically reducing environmental impacts associated with manufacturing its infrastructure.
RCAM Technologies: Pioneering the Future of Renewable Energy
Since its inception in 2017, RCAM Technologies (www.rcamtechnologies.com) has been unwavering in its mission to reduce the cost of renewable energy and accelerate its adoption using 3D concrete printing technologies. The company has developed several innovative concrete solutions including energy storage pods, anchors, and substructures for floating renewable energy applications such as floating solar, wave, and wind energy, as well as land-based wind turbine towers and foundations. Each of these innovative concrete products is designed to be manufactured cost-effectively, sustainably, and domestically utilizing local labor and material supply chains. Without solutions like these, technologies manufactured abroad will need to be imported to meet the rapidly growing demand for renewable energy.
A 3D concrete printer printing RCAM’s concrete torpedo anchors for floating offshore wind. These anchors can reduce manufacturing costs by 80% and carbon emissions by 90% compared to steel variants. Image credit: Joshua Bauer, Berani Designs
CyBe Construction: Pushing the Envelope in the 3D Printing Industry
CyBe Construction (https://cybe.eu/), building on the century-long legacy of industry stalwart Hendriks Construction, has consistently demonstrated its prowess in leveraging 3D-printing technology to construct complex structures swiftly and efficiently. The CyBe GR sets a new industry standard with its lightning-fast printing speed, unmatched precision, and capability to construct intricate geometries with minimal waste. At 500 millimeters per second, the CyBe GR has the fastest print speed on the market while maintaining superior, consistent quality. This ability allows for rapid, nonstop, wet-on-wet production for optimal strength and adhesion.
A CyBe Construction 3D concrete printing gantry system performing printing trials at the CyBe manufacturing facility in Oss, The Netherlands (robotic arm not shown). Image Credit: Gabriel Falzone at CyBe Construction’s Facility in Oss, Netherlands.
Cutting Edge Technology Meets Renewable Energy Infrastructure
The newly acquired printer will be housed by RCAM Technologies’ dockside facility inside the 400,000-square-foot AltaSea campus at the Port of Los Angeles (https://altasea.org/our-future-is-blue/). In 2022, RCAM Technologies created the only port-side 3D concrete printing research and development facility in the world, and will be expanding this capability further with the CyBe GR. The integration of the CyBe GR into their workflow signals a game-changing shift in renewable energy construction methodology. It directly addresses the inefficiencies of traditional concrete construction methods, high costs, labor-intensive processes, and significant carbon footprints, propelling the industry into a new era of efficiency and sustainability.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) are key supporters in this joint effort taking a significant leap forward. The acquisition of the CyBe GR was facilitated in part by NYSERDA’s program opportunity notice funding for Energy Storage Technology and Product Development, with RCAM’s selection for an award announced in September 2022. NYSERDA’s award supported development of a 3D concrete printed marine pumped hydroelectric storage system that integrates directly with offshore wind development in support of grid resiliency and reduced reliance on fossil fuel plants to meet periods of peak electric demand. CEC’s grant funding opportunity for Advancing Designs for Floating Offshore Wind Mooring Lines and Anchors also supported the acquisition. RCAM has the potential to catalyze change within the renewable energy sector, stimulate economic growth, and develop technologies to meet global energy needs sustainably. With the assistance of these essential funding agencies, RCAM is now better positioned to propel the construction and energy industries toward more sustainable practices. RCAM Technologies is grateful to both NYSERDA and CEC for backing this endeavor.
“This transformative technology takes us leaps and bounds beyond our current capabilities, paving the way for a more sustainable, cost-effective future, aligned with RCAM’s forward-thinking mission.”
- Jason Cotrell, RCAM Founder & CEO.