Good news to WindFloat Atlantic

WindFloat Atlantic has taken another important step towards entry into operations. The second of the three platforms, which make up the project, has left the Port of Ferrol yesterday, 29th December, for its final destination, 20 km off the coast of Portugal at Viana do Castelo.

Upon arrival to the project site, it will be installed next to the first floating platform, which has the exact same dimensions: 30 metres in height and with a 50-m distance between each column. The third and final platform, once it arrives to the site, will complete the first floating offshore wind farm in Continental Europe. The structure, which has set off from the outer harbour of Ferrol, comprises a floating platform and the largest wind turbine ever installed on a floating structure. Once operational and with the installed capacity of 25 MW, the wind farm will be able to generate enough energy to supply the equivalent of 60,000 users each year.

The project is led by the Windplus consortium, comprising EDP Renewables (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%) and Principle Power Inc. (1.2%). The facility has three wind turbines mounted on floating platforms which are anchored only with chains to the seabed at a depth of 100 m. It includes cutting-edge technology that minimises the environmental impact and facilitates access to untapped wind resources in deep waters. This technology has wide-reaching benefits that enhance its accessibility and cost-effectiveness, including its aptness for dry-dock assembly and towing without the need for specialised towing craft, or the advantages of not having to rely on complex offshore operations associated with the installation of traditional bottom-fixed structures. All of this makes it possible to replicate this initiative elsewhere, eliminating any geographical conditions on installing these types of facilities.