World’s 1st semi-submersible wind farm hits massive 320GWh in just 4 years

WindFloat Atlantic (WFA), the world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm, has generated 320GWh of energy over its four years of operation.

The project, located off the coast of Portugal and launched in 2020 as a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, has surpassed the performance expectations set at its inauguration.

According to the firms, the power generated by the initiative is providing clean energy to 25,000 Portuguese households each year.

“We are proud to see that our project progresses each year toward having a more positive impact,” said Jose Miguel Moreira Pinheiro, Project Director of WindFloat Atlantic, in a statement.

Offshore energy milestone

The wind farm consists of three floating platforms, each equipped with an 8.4-MW Vestas turbine. These semi-submerged platforms are anchored to the sea floor, 328 ft (100 m) deep, using chains, and are connected to an electrical substation in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, via a 12.4-mile (20-km) cable.

Three of the project’s turbines have been supplying electricity to Portugal’s national grid since July 2020, demonstrating the potential of floating wind technology.

The project’s electricity production has increased steadily each January, with reports proudly stating that it reached 78 GWh in 2022 and 80 GWh in 2023.

According to a statement, with a total cumulative production of 320GWh as of July 2024, it can supply electricity to more than 25,000 households in Viana do Castelo annually, preventing the emission of more than 33.000 tons of CO2 and generating 1,500 direct and indirect jobs.

In its four years of operation, WFA has effectively overcome a number of firsts. During Storm Ciaran in 2023, the system proved to be resilient and strong, withstanding waves up to 20 meters high and wind gusts up to 139 kilometers per hour.

The managing firm Ocean Winds claims to be steadfastly dedicated to tracking and improving the WFA’s environmental performance over its lifetime in accordance with its objectives.

According to the firm, over 270 species successfully coexisted with the project, and there were no substantial negative effects on marine animals or endangered bird species. Thus, the initiative has been found to have minimal influence on the seabed and biodiversity.

Surveys also reveal that the floating structures have promoted marine life, which has aided in undersea conservation and the formation of reefs.

Floating wind revolution

Installations such as WFA have demonstrated that floating wind technology is ready for commercial scale in areas where sea depths prevent bottom-fixed installations and minimize visual and environmental consequences.

According to the firm , the placement of wind turbines at sea does not affect the scenery or the standard of living in the surrounding areas.

The WFA offshore wind power plant features three wind turbines supported by semi-submersible floating structures based on US-based wind energy firm Principle Power’s “WindFloat” technology.

Adapted from oil industry platforms, this technology was proven viable with the full-scale “WindFloat 1” prototype, which used a 2 MW Vestas V80 turbine . Each triangular floating platform consists of three interconnected vertical columns, one of which supports the wind turbine tower.

The platform’s lateral span is about 50 meters. Stability is ensured through a system of gates at the columns’ base, which are filled with water, and an active ballast system that moves water between columns. This system compensates for wind-induced stresses, maintaining the tower’s upright position to optimize performance.