ABS classes floating turbines for offshore wind farm
WindFloat Atlantic, the world’s first classed offshore windfarm with three 8.4MW floating turbines (Source: ABS)
ABS has classed three semi-submersible floating units, designed by United States-based Principle Power, housing 8.4-MW MHI Vestas turbines for the WindFloat Atlantic wind farm. Europe’s first large-scale floating wind farm is sited 20km off the coast of Viana do Castello, Portugal, and is majority owned by Spanish energy firm, Ocean Winds, itself a 50:50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie.
Jose Pinheiro, Ocean Winds’ Southern Europe Country Manager, commented: “The WindFloat Altantic project is again showing its technology reliability. Having achieved formal ABS classification for the three floating platforms is therefore an important milestone for the project shareholders and also for the offshore floating wind industry.”
Speaking for the classification society, senior vice president , Global Offshore, Matt Tremblay, said: “It’s a historic first and, we believe, the first of many more to come. ABS has made a significant contribution both to this project and the development of offshore floating wind in Portugal. It underscores the potential of class and industry working together for the save adoption of new technologies.”
The WindFloat Atlantic wind farm is being developed by the Windplus consortium, which is jointly owned by Ocean Winds, Repsol and Principle Power Inc.
