Portuguese energy company EDP Innovation, partnered with Seattle-based Principle Power, has begun work on the world’s first floating wind farm, with the pilot test wind turbine tower in place nearly four miles off the coast of the town of Povoa do Varzim.
Standing approximately 177 feet tall, the turbine tower floats over deep water and is connected to an onshore power station and the grid via cables laid on the bottom of the ocean. Unlike typical offshore turbines, which have to be closer to shore in order to be secured to the ocean floor, floating turbines can be placed further away in deeper waters. For distances further than 6 miles offshore, the plan is to build mid-ocean substations to reduce the distance that generated power must travel via underwater cable.
Constructed at a cost of $25.3 million, the first turbine in the project is expected to generate 2 MW of power, enough to provide for the energy needs of 1,300 families. The initial phase of the floating farm will consist of five turbines for testing purposes, and upon successful completion the company expects to start commercial development and sales of the technology within two years.
“This was a great success, our calculations have proved right, and the unit performed as predicted. But this was a conservative design. Next time we will be more optimistic,” said Principle Power Chief Executive Alla Weinstein.
The world’s largest offshore wind farm is located off the Cumbrian coast in the UK, with 367 MW of generating capacity: enough power to supply for 320,000 households. EDP has a long way to go with their floating turbines to match that kind of generating capability, for sure. But with the ability to move wind projects further offshore and away from the eyes of those who don’t want to see them out their front windows, floating wind farms may just be the offshore energy technology of the future.
[via EV Wind]
Image Credit: Andy S-D/Flickr