Offshore wind energy implemented in Portugal

 

Implantation in Portugal

 

 

Portugal is a pioneer in the demonstration of a floating platform technology. This is the WindFloat technology, consisting of a three-column semi-submersible platform, dynamically stabilized (viscous damping) and statically stabilized (water ballast) and anchored to the seabed by gravity and friction through conventional catenary-shaped mooring. These platforms are intended for the exploration of off-shore wind in deep waters (> 40 m) and adapt to any type of wind turbine. They are built and assembled on land, rather than at sea, and towed to their destination.

 

 

In a project called WindFloat Demo, the world's first prototype of floating platform technology, with a wind turbine of 2 MW of power, was installed in an area of maritime public domain located 6 km off Aguçadoura, Póvoa de Varzim. This prototype was connected to the public grid in 2011 and was in uninterrupted operation, with high availability, until 2016. The turbine was assembled at its base in the shipyards of the Setúbal region, in Portugal. Throughout its lifetime the WindFloat Demo's floating turbine has survived winds of 41 m/s and waves of 17 m high.

 

 

In WindFloat Atlantic project a wind farm with pre-commercial technology was installed in an area of maritime public domain located 20 km off Viana do Castelo and 100 m deep. It consists of three turbines of 8.4 MW of power each (the largest, at the time of construction) based on WindFloat floating technology platforms. Two platforms were built in Portugal, at Setúbal shipyards, and the third in the port of Ferrol, Spain. Each platform is 30 m high, 50 m distance between columns. This wind farm was connected to the public grid, in its entirety, in 2020 and continues to operate.

 

 

Legend: WindFloat Atlantic turbine, transport to Viana do Castelo (source: DOCK 90).