The largest and most powerful wind turbine to be used for a floating offshore wind project has been moved into position atop its semi-submersible foundation off the coast of Portugal, the first of three 8.4 megawatt (MW) turbines which will make up the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind project.
First floating turbine at WindFloat Atlantic
Photo courtesy of MHI Vestas
Offshore wind turbine manufacturer MHI Vestas announced this week that one of its V164-8.4 MW wind turbines had been successfully towed from Ferrol in northern Spain to its final destination off the coast of Viana do Castelo, a municipality in the Northern Region of Portugal. The first of three V164-8.4 MW wind turbines which will make up the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind project, the turbines are being installed atop a triangular WindFloat floating foundation designed by Principle Power.
“We’re breaking new ground with the WindFloat Atlantic installation, so we’re intent on gathering the necessary data and insights to carry forward into future floating offshore wind projects,” said Flemming Ougaard, MHI Vestas Chief Operations Officer.
The 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic is expected to generate the equivalent power necessary for 60,000 people. However, the project is also intended to deliver vital lessons in installation and commissioning techniques, turbine performance, and foundation performance, for future floating offshore wind project.
Floating offshore wind projects such as WindFloat Atlantic offer the benefits of offshore wind — including clean renewable power, access to consistent offshore winds, and putting generation technology out of sight — while providing access for regions which do not necessarily have the shallow sea depths necessary for traditional offshore wind farms. Additionally, the further out from shore an offshore wind farm is located, the stronger and more consistent are the wind speeds, providing greater generation capabilities.
WindFloat Atlantic is being developed by WindPlus, a consortium led by EDP Renewables and including ENGIE, Repsol, and Principle Power.
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