Semi-submersible Wind Turbine Project Seeks EU Funding

Portuguese energy group EDP and US partner Principle Power appy for EU funding to build a 25MW-plus pre-commercial offshore array

According to a 'Recharge' report, the trial-run WindFloat 1 (WF1) has flowed more than 1.7GWh of energy since being moored in the Atlantic in 43 metres of water, 5km off Aguçadoura, near Póvoa de Varzim, northern Portugal, last autumn.

The 1,200-tonne floating concept, fitted with a single Vestas V80-2.0MW turbine, rode out storms that buffeted it with gale-force winds and waves of up to 15 metres during its first winter offshore.

The €20m ($25m) WF1 was built by the WindPlus joint venture, which counts EDP , Principle Power , Vestas , Portuguese shipbuilder A Silva Matos (ASM), venture capitalist InovCapital and Spain’s Repsol among its shareholders. The floater is seen as a game-changer both in terms of technology and supply-chain management.

On the basis of the successful trial operation of WF! the consortium has applied for European funding towards commercial development.