First floating wind farm in Europe is now fully operational

As of 27 July 2020, WindFloat Atlantics floating wind farm is fully operational, supplying clean energy to Portugal’s electric grid.

The Windplus joint venture has been a decade-long project and is the first of its kind at ensuring access to wind resources in water depths over 100m deep.

With a total installed capacity of 25 MW, WindFloat Atlatic is the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm. It will generate enough energy to supply 60,000 users per year, saving almost 1.1m tonnes of CO2.

Three floating platforms have been successfully installed and connected to the Portuguese grid. The platforms are able to accommodate 8.4MW turbines, the world’s largest ever installed on a floating platform.

Edp attributes the success of the project to its technology and design which offers stability in adverse weather and sea conditions. A key advantage was the assembly technology used: dry-dock assembly provided significant logistical and financial savings, and the platforms were towed using standard tugboats.

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 commissioning of this floating wind farm represents the shift to diversify energy sources within the energy sector. It provides access to untapped marine areas and represents a major technological leap towards a carbon-free economy.

Photograph: Edp Renewables