The second platform of the WindFloat Atlantic project has set off from the Port of Ferrol towards Viana do Castelo

Lisbon, December 30, 2019 - WindFloat Atlantic project has taken another important step towards entry into operations. The second of the three platforms, which make up the project, left the Port of Ferrol yesterday for its final destination 20 km off the coast of Portugal at Viana do Castelo.

Upon arrival to the project site, it will be installed next to the first floating platform, which has the exact same dimensions: 30 meters in height and with a 50-m distance between each column. The third and final platform, once it arrives at the site, will complete the first floating offshore wind farm in Continental Europe.

Transportation of the three WindFloat Atlantic floating structures is a milestone in itself, as it sidesteps the need for towing craft designed specifically for this process and makes it possible for the project to be replicated in other geographies.

The structure, which has set off from the outer harbor of Ferrol, comprises a floating platform and the largest wind turbine ever installed on a floating structure. Once operational and with the installed capacity of 25 MW, the wind farm will be able to generate enough energy to supply the equivalent of 60,000 users each year.

About WindFloat Atlantic

The project is led by the Windplus consortium, comprising EDP Renewables (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%) and Principle Power Inc. (1.2%). The facility has three wind turbines mounted on floating platforms which are anchored only with chains to the seabed at a depth of 100 m. It includes cutting-edge technology that minimizes the environmental impact and facilitates access to untapped wind resources in deep waters. This technology has wide-reaching benefits that enhance its accessibility and cost-effectiveness, including its aptness for dry-dock assembly and towing without the need for specialized towing craft, or the advantages of not having to rely on complex offshore operations associated with the installation of traditional bottom-fixed structures. All of this makes it possible to replicate this initiative elsewhere, eliminating any geographical conditions on installing these types of facilities.

The WindFloat Atlantic units can also support the world’s largest wind turbines installed on a floating structure of 8,4 MW each, helping to increase power generation and drive significant reductions in lifecycle costs.

The platforms are being built in cooperation between the two countries on the Iberian peninsula: two of them were manufactured at the Setúbal shipyards (Portugal), and the third at Avilés and Ferrol shipyards (Spain). The project uses WindFloat disruptive technology, which enables wind platforms to be installed in deep waters, inaccessible to date, where abundant wind resources can be harnessed.

This initiative has had support from public and private institutions, encouraging companies that are leaders in their respective markets to take part in the project; while the Government of Portugal, the European Commission, and the European Investment Bank have provided financial support.

WindFloat Atlantic project builds on the success of the WindFloat1 prototype, which was in operations between 2011 and 2016. The 2MW prototype successfully generated energy uninterruptedly over five years, surviving extreme weather conditions, including waves up to 17 meters tall and 60-knot winds, completely unscathed.

The partners that have made this project possible include, in addition to Principle Power, the joint venture between Navantia/Windar, the A-Silva Matos Group, Bourbon, the wind turbine supplier MHI Vestas and dynamic cable supplier JDR Cables.

About EDP Renewables (EDPR)
EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR) is a global leader in the renewable energy sector and the world’s fourth-largest wind energy producer. With a sound development pipeline, first-class assets, and market-leading operating capacity, EDPR has undergone exceptional development in recent years and is currently present in 14 international markets (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the UK, and the US). Energias de Portugal, S.A. (“EDP”), the principal shareholder of EDPR, is a global energy company and a leader in value creation, innovation, and sustainability. EDP has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years.

About ENGIE
Our group is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. In response to the urgency of climate change, our ambition is to become the world leader in the zero-carbon transition "as a service" for our customers, in particular global companies and local authorities. We rely on our key activities (renewable energy, gas, services) to offer competitive turnkey solutions. We rely on our key activities (renewable energy, gas, services) to offer competitive turnkey solutions.
With our 160,000 employees, our customers, partners, and stakeholders, we are a community of Imaginative Builders, committed every day to more harmonious progress.
Turnover in 2018: 60.6 billion euros. The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, DJSI Europe, and Euronext Vigeo Eiris - World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120, France 20, CAC 40 Governance).

About Repsol
Repsol is a global company that is present throughout the entire energy value chain. The company employs more than 25,000 people and its products are sold in more than 90 countries, reaching 10 million customers. It produces around 700,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and has one of the most efficient refining systems in Europe, capable of processing more than one million barrels of crude oil daily. The company is well-positioned for the energy transition with its focus on developing gas production projects. It operates low-emissions electricity generation assets, including photovoltaic power projects, and is pioneering development of mobility initiatives to create new solutions and energy sources for transportation. The company distributes and sells fuels and lubricants through its more than 4,700 service stations in Spain, Portugal, Peru, Italy, and Mexico, making it a leader in this sector. It is also the biggest player in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market in Spain.

About Principle Power
Principle Power is a global energy company that enables origination and development and offers technology and service solutions to harvest the full potential of the world’s energy resources, by providing access to transitional and deep-water offshore wind sites that were previously inaccessible.
With its proven and in-demand WindFloat technology, Principle Power is the commercial market leader in floating offshore wind. By simplifying the way offshore wind is deployed, this unique technology assists the ongoing development of the offshore wind industry as a whole, opens new deep-water markets, and has the potential to substantially decrease the cost and risk profile of offshore wind projects globally.