The Windplus consortium, created by OW, a 50:50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, Repsol, and Principle Power, developed the wind farm, which will be fully operational in 2020. According to the project’s owners and operators, the favorable data demonstrates Portugal’s offshore wind energy potential, which is reflected in the wind farm’s annual availability, which was between 93 and 94%, as well as the success of WindFloat Atlantic’s innovative technology, which is a benchmark in the offshore sector.
The wind farm currently boasts three platforms, each with an 8.4-MW Vestas turbine. These structures are anchored with chains to the seabed and connected to an onshore substation in Viana do Castelo through a 20-kilometer cable. The semi-submersible floating wind farm has achieved a significant milestone by generating 78 GWh of power. This new technology offers a promising solution for harnessing wind energy in deep waters, where traditional wind turbines cannot be installed.
The semi-submersible design of this floating wind farm allows it to be anchored to the sea floor in deep waters and float on the surface of the ocean, providing a stable platform for the wind turbines. This unique design enables the wind farm to access stronger and more consistent wind speeds that are not available in shallow waters near the shore. The use of floating wind farms will also help to reduce the visual impact of wind turbines on coastal landscapes, making it a more environmentally friendly solution.
The achievement of 78 GWh of power generation demonstrates the viability of this technology and opens up new opportunities for renewable energy production. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of floating wind farms, which have the potential to make a significant contribution to the global energy mix.
Floating wind farms can also help to increase energy security, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With increasing global demand for energy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, floating wind farms offer a promising solution for the future of renewable energy.
