World’s First Semi-Submersible Floating Offshore Wind Farm Smashes Predictions

February 1, 2024, by Adnan Memija

WindFloat Atlantic, the world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm, has completed its third year in operation, closing in 2023 with an electricity production of 80 GWh.

Connected to the grid by the end of 2019 and fully commissioned in 2020, the floating offshore wind farm was developed by the Windplus consortium formed by Ocean Winds, a 50:50 joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE, Repsol, and Principle Power.

The pioneer wind farm consists of three platforms, each supporting one 8.4-MW Vestas turbine, which are anchored with chains to the seabed and connected to the onshore substation in the Portuguese municipality of Viana do Castelo through a 20-kilometre cable.

According to the project’s owners and operators, the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic also closed in 2023 breaking more records with Storm Ciaran posing challenges with waves reaching a maximum height of 20 metres and wind gusts up to 139 kilometres per hour.

These conditions far surpassed the project’s previous records, demonstrating the readiness and robustness of the floating technology, even in extreme offshore conditions.

“With three years of operating successfully, it is demonstrated that floating technology is mature and reliable even in challenging environments and that it will allow to unlock offshore wind opportunities worldwide,” according to the press release.

WindFloat Atlantic has also been a hub for innovative solutions and pilots, being a key part of the testing of projects such as ATLANTIS.

The project’s goal is to integrate robotics in offshore wind farms to decrease the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by minimising the reliance on support vessels for inspection and maintenance operations offshore.

In addition, the project team has kept collaborating with the Portuguese and Viana’s do Castelo community, organising educational programmes such as Wind Experts, and local activities and sponsorships within Viana do Castelo.

WindFloat Atlantic is exceeding the production expectations set for this project and considering that it will be in operation for the next 25 years, the positive impact of WindFloat Atlantic will never stop increasing, according to the companies behind the project.