Principle Power and Energias de Portugal have together successfully deployed an offshore 2MW floating wind device off the coast of Aguçadoura, Portugal.
The WindFloat project partners also included Vestas Wind Systems A/S, InovCapital, and Fundo de Apoio à Inovação as well as 60 other European players.
The project is notable as it is the first offshore wind deployment worldwide that require the use of any heavy lift equipment offshore.
Alla Weinstein, CEO of Principle Power, said, 'In a way we are making a similar leap towards new energy resources as the oil & gas industry did in the 1970′s when it began using floating structures. Further, we have proven the capabilities of the Portuguese maritime industry to adapt and provide the necessary resources to successfully fabricate and deploy an offshore structure of this scale. We [Principle Power] look forward to future business and success in this and global offshore wind markets with our innovative WindFloat.'
Over the coming weeks, testing and start-up will be carried out. This will include trial operations and a phased ramp-up in power production to full capacity.