The project - the first installation in the world of offshore turbines that has not involved the use of heavy construction and assembly systems at sea - will now continue a few kilometres to the north, in Viana do Castelo, where the first floating offshore wind farm based on this technology is located.
After five years at sea, WindFloat completed the testing phase at the end of 2016. The Windfloat project is part of the Industrial Strategy for Oceanic Renewable Energies, whose main objective is the “creation of an industrial cluster” to export these new clean energy technologies, “which has the potential to generate €254 million in investment, €280 million in gross added value, €119 million to the balance of trade and 1,500 new jobs,” the order said.
Coordinated by EDP, through EDP Renováveis, WindFloat is managed by a consortium that includes technology partner Principle Power, Repsol, venture capital company Portugal Ventures and metallurgical company A. Silva Matos. It is a pioneering project worldwide for the exploration of wind resources out at sea.
This technology allows for exploration of offshore wind potential at depths of over 40 metres, based on the development of a semi-submersible and triangular floating platform, first used in the oil and gas industry, on which a wind turbine with several megawatts (MW) of production capacity is installed.