Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renováveis and ENGIE, and the main developer of the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic project, the world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm, located approximately 20 kilometers off the coast of Viana do Castelo, is celebrating five successful years of operation.
Since it began operations, the three turbines of WindFloat Atlantic have consistently delivered clean and reliable electricity, demonstrating both the technological maturity and commercial potential of floating offshore wind technology. With a total accumulated output of 345 GWh — enough to power 25,000 Portuguese households annually — the project continues to exceed expectations and further strengthen Portugal’s leadership in the energy transition. Electricity production has steadily increased each year, reaching 78 GWh in 2022, 80 GWh in 2023, and 86 GWh in 2024.
This fifth anniversary is marked by a series of official initiatives, including the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the WindFloat Atlantic Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base — an event attended by the Mayor of Viana do Castelo, Dr. Luís Nobre, and the CEO of Ocean Winds, Craig Windram. The celebrations also include an institutional dinner aboard the Portuguese Navy’s NRP Sagres, a significant national symbol. The dinner will bring together representatives from OW, its partners EDP Renováveis and ENGIE, project collaborators, the Portuguese central government, regional and local authorities, industry associations, academia, and the local community — representing some of the key stakeholders who have driven the project forward.
As part of the 5th anniversary celebration, Ocean Winds has released a report — WindFloat Atlantic: Five Years of Producing Renewable Energy – Living Floating Offshore Wind Energy — highlighting key aspects of the project, including its economic, social, and environmental impact in Portugal, as well as its influence on the industry internationally. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience, from the WindFloat1 prototype to today’s successful operations, the report reinforces WindFloat Atlantic’s role as a model for the future of commercial scale floating offshore wind energy projects.
