WindFloat Atlantic

Location and Overview

• The WindFloat Atlantic (WFA) wind farm is located off the coast of Viana do Castelo, Portugal, approximately 20 kilometres from the shore and within 12 miles of the Portuguese territorial sea. It operates in an area of the Atlantic Ocean with a depth of about 95 meters.

Capacity and Energy Production

• The WFA wind farm has an installed capacity of 25 MW, comprising three MHI Vestas V164 wind turbines, each with a unit power of 8.4 MW.
• As of the end of 2023, the wind farm had recorded a total cumulative production of 259 GWh, meeting the planned figures.
• In its first year of operation, the wind farm produced 75 GWh of energy, which was enough to supply electricity to 25,000 Portuguese households and avoid the emission of 33,000 tons of CO2.

Technology and Design

• The wind farm utilizes the innovative WindFloat® technology developed by Principle Power Inc. This technology allows for the installation of multi-MW wind turbines on semi-submersible floating platforms, which are anchored to the seabed by chains. This design enables operation in deep waters that are inaccessible to traditional fixed-bottom structures.
• Each platform consists of three vertical columns interconnected and solidary to each other, with one column supporting the base of the wind turbine tower. The stability of the platforms is reinforced by a system of gates filled with water at the base of the columns and an active ballast system that compensates for wind thrust and keeps the turbine upright.

Construction and Installation

• The platforms were built and assembled entirely in onshore ports. Two of the platforms were manufactured at the Setúbal shipyards in Portugal, and the third was manufactured at the Avilés and Ferrol shipyards in Spain. They were then transported by standard towing craft to their final location, eliminating the need for large and expensive installation vessels.
• The project leverages experience from the oil and gas industry to support the installation and operation of floating wind turbines in offshore applications.

Operational Details

• The wind farm became fully operational in July 2020 after the successful connection of the platforms to the grid via a 20-km cable linking the offshore wind farm to the substation of Viana do Castelo.
• The wind farm is operated from the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base located in the commercial port of Viana do Castelo, which also served as the base for the commissioning works and coordination of offshore activities.

Environmental and Economic Impact

• The WFA project represents a significant technological leap towards a carbon-free economy, facilitating access to untapped marine wind resources and reducing lifecycle costs associated with marine construction. It avoids complex offshore operations and minimizes the potential environmental impact compared to traditional fixed-bottom structures.
• The project has received financial support from public and private institutions, including the Government of Portugal, the European Commission, and the European Investment Bank.

Consortium and Ownership

• The WindFloat Atlantic project is led by the Windplus consortium, which includes EDP Renewables (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%), and Principle Power Inc. (1.2%). The consortium is now represented under Ocean Winds, a joint venture between ENGIE and EDPR dedicated to offshore wind.

Performance and Reliability

• The wind farm has demonstrated high levels of availability since its inception and has performed well above expectations. The platforms are designed and certified to remain in operation for 25 years.
• The technology was previously tested with the WindFloat1 prototype, which operated successfully between 2011 and 2016, surviving extreme weather conditions without any significant technical incidents.