zoomImage source: Principle Power

ASM Industries has secured a contract to manufacture and supply two complete foundations for the WindFloat Atlantic floating wind project in Portugal.

The project will comprise a total of three floating foundations based on Principle Power’s WindFloat concept, with the Navantia-Windar joint venture producing the third one.

The production of the equipment is already in process and the delivery of the foundations is expected in June next year, ASM said.

“At this stage we are investing a total of 40 million euros in two new units in Setúbal and Aveiro to serial manufacture offshore structures, because as we know it is a strategic area with potential to be explored,” said Adelino Costa Matos, CEO of ASM Industries.

The WindFloat Atlantic project is being developed by WindPlus, a consortium of EDP Renewables, Mitsubishi Corporation (DGE), Chiyoda Corporation, Trust Energy (Engie and Marubeni), and Repsol.

The 25MW wind farm will comprise three MHI Vestas V164-8.0 MW turbines, scheduled to be fully commissioned in 2019. The foundations and turbines will be entirely built and assembled on land and later towed out to the offshore location some 20km off the Viana do Castelo coast.

“This project should be seen as a unique opportunity for our country to gather the skills, infrastructures and know-how in the fabrication of structures for the ocean sector. The offshore wind farm market worldwide has great potential and the technology used in the WindFloat Atlantic project allows Portugal to continue to be a pioneer in this area.”

Principle Power’s WindFloat concept first came to life in 2011, with WindFloat 1 installed off the Portuguese coast for demonstration purposes. After completing all the project objectives, Principle Power decommissioned the WindFloat 1 at the end of September 2016.