Installation of the first of three turbines for the 25-MW WindFloat Atlantic got underway on 17 July 2019
The 8.3-MW MHI Vestas V164 turbine is being installed on a floating foundation in the outer harbour at Ferrol in Spain. It is the largest turbine to be installed on a floating platform to date.
Fabrication and load-out of the first WindFloat platform for the three-turbine project was completed earlier in July at Navantia in Fene, Spain and the unit is now moored at Ferrol, where the turbine is being installed.
The consortium behind the WindFloat Atlantic project said assembly will take place over the coming weeks in preparation for offshore operations commencing, which it said was “scheduled for the end of summer,” when the floating structure will depart for its final destination off the coast of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. It will be moored in water depths of around 100 m.
The project is being developed by the Windplus consortium, which is jointly owned by EDP Renováveis (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%) and Principle Power (1.2%). WindFloat Atlantic uses Principle Power’s semi-submersible floating foundation. It has secured support from public and private entities, attracting financial support from the European Commission through the NER300 Programme, the Government of Portugal and the European Investment Bank.
Apart from MHI Vestas and Principle Power, other suppliers involved in the project include a Navantia/Windar joint venture, A Silva Matos Group, offshore vessel operator Bourbon and cable manufacturer JDR Cables.
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