1st Floating Wind Farm in the World now Fully Operational

WindFloat Atlantic is now fully operational, and with a total installed capacity of 25 MW it is the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm

WindFloat Atlantic is now fully operational and supplying clean energy to Portugal’s electrical grid. Following the connection of the last of the three platforms to the 20 m export cable connecting the wind farm to the substation at Viana do Castelo, Portugal, the construction of the wind farm is now complete. The project which has a total installed capacity of 25 MW is the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm and will generate enough energy to supply the equivalent of 60,000 users per year, saving almost 1.1 million tons of CO2.

This milestone cements the success of a decade-long project by the Windplus joint venture, ensuring access to the best wind resources in water depths that have previously been inaccessible. The JV has successfully installed and connected three platforms – measuring 30 metres in height with a 50 metre distance between columns – which are able to accommodate 8.4 MW turbines,  the world’s largest ever installed on a floating platform. The Windplus JV is jointly owned by EDP Renováveis (EDPR), ENGIE, Repsol, and Principle Power.

This project’s success is rooted in its technology. Its mooring technology, for example, allows for installation in waters over 100 m deep, and its design offers stability in adverse weather and sea conditions. Another key advantage was the assembly technology used: dry-dock assembly provided significant logistical and financial savings, and the platforms were towed using standard tug boats.

“These technical advantages, among others, clearly show that Windfloat Atlantic’s model is replicable in other areas where adverse seabed conditions or significant water depth mean that traditional bottom-fixed offshore wind technology is not an option,” the firm issued in a statement.

In October 2019, WindPower Korea, EDP Renewables (EDPR) and Aker Solutions had formed a consortium with the ambition to develop an initial 500 MW floating wind farm off the coast of Ulsan Metropolitan City in South Korea.