Full power at first floating wind project in continental Europe

Aarhus, Denmark
July 28, 2020

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind confirms that the final of three V164 8.4 MW turbines is now generating power to the Portuguese grid.

The third and final V164-8.4 MW turbine installed on Principle Power’s semi-submersible WindFloat floating platform has now completed testing at the WindFloat Atlantic project site, and is generating clean, renewable wind power to the Portuguese grid.

The three V164-8.4 MW turbines are the largest commercially-operating wind turbines installed offshore on floating platforms anywhere in the world.

The project site is located 20 km off the coast of Viana do Castelo in Portugal at a sea depth of 100 meters. The WindFloat Atlantic project has been developed by the Windplus consortium, made up of EDP Renewables, Engie, Repsol and Principle Power.

MHI Vestas Project Director Allan Birk Wisby said, “Achieving full power at WindFloat Atlantic is a major milestone for floating offshore wind and for MHI Vestas. This landmark has been achieved thanks to years of collaboration between the project partners, and as a result, floating offshore wind technology is now truly benefiting Portugal.”

WindFloat Atlantic is the first floating offshore wind farm in continental Europe, and will deliver an installed capacity of 25 MW, enough to deliver clean electricity equivalent to the amount used by 60,000 consumers in one year.

MHI Vestas has also been selected as preferred supplier for the “Eoliennes flottantes du golfe du lion” (EFGL) project, being developed by a consortium including WindFloat Atlantic partners EDP Renewables and Engie. The EFGL project is anticipated to utilise three V164-10.0 MW turbines, also sitting atop Principle Power’s WindFloat platform.



About MHI Vestas Offshore Wind

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is a joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems A/S (50%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (50%). The company’s focus is to design, manufacture, install and service wind turbines for the offshore wind industry. The company aims to create sustainable value through offshore wind power by driving capital and operating savings and increasing the power output of wind turbines. An innovative force in offshore wind since its inception in 2014, the company is guided by its founding principles of collaboration, trust, technology and commitment.

 

About WindFloat Atlantic

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  • Developer: WindPlus
  • Turbines: 3 x V164-8.4 MW turbines from MHI Vestas
  • Blade tip height: 190 meters
  • Foundation: WindFloat (floating, semi-submersible)
  • Foundation technology supplier: Principle Power, Inc.
  • Project Capacity: 25 MW
  • Location: Portugal, Viana do Castelo, Northern Region
  • Distance From Shore: 20 km
  • Sea Depth: 100 metres
  • Nominal Voltage: 66 kV
  • Noteworthy fact: Largest and most powerful wind turbines operating on a floating foundation

 

MHI Vestas in the floating offshore wind sector

Five (5) projects to date:

WindFloat 1 (Portugal) – 1 x V80-2.0 MW installed in 2011 (decommissioned)
WindFloat Atlantic (Portugal) – 3 x V164-8.4 MW (installed)
Kincardine (Scotland) – 5 x V164-9.5 MW (planned installation in 2020)
Groix & Belle Ile (France) – 3 x V164-9.5 MW (planned installation in 2022)
EFGL (France) – 3 x V164-10.0 MW (planned installation in 2022)

Most powerful turbines operating on a floating platform:

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  • 2019: 8.4 MW
  • 2020: 9.5 MW
  • 2022: 10.0 MW
  • Projected installed base as of 2022: 14 turbines, 134 MW