First semi-submersible floating wind farm nears completion

The last of the three pre-assembled wind turbine platforms for the WindFloat Atlantic project left the Port of Ferrol for its destination 20 km (12 miles) offshore Viana do Castelo, Portugal.

The journey is expected to take three days, arriving today.

This operation will be completed by hooking up this last unit to the pre-laid mooring system and connecting it to the rest of the offshore wind farm. This third platform will be installed next to the other two units, which are already supplying energy to the Portuguese electricity grid.

According to the Windplus consortium, transporting each of the three WindFloat Atlantic floating structures is a milestone. It sidesteps the need for towing craft designed specifically for this process and makes it possible for the project to be replicated elsewhere.

The floating structure – measuring 30 metres (98 feet) high and with 50 metres (164 feet) between each of its columns – can support an 8.4-MW wind turbine. This is said to be the world’s largest commercially available wind turbine.

Once all three platforms are installed, the 25-MW wind farm is expected to generate enough energy to supply the equivalent of 60,000 users each year.

WindFloat Atlantic could save almost 1.1 million tons of CO₂, the consortium claimed.

The Windplus consortium consist of EDP Renewables (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%), and Principle Power Inc (1.2%).

WindFloat Atlantic is the first floating wind farm in continental Europe and the first semi-submersible floating wind farm in the world.

Source: Offshore Magazine