Floating wind specialist Principle Power said on Tuesday that offshore wind projects using its WindFloat platform technology have collectively generated more than 1 terawatt-hour (TWh) of electricity, marking a significant operational milestone for the company.
The cumulative output includes electricity generated from three projects: WindFloat 1, WindFloat Atlantic, and the Kincardine offshore wind farm. WindFloat 1 served as a 2 megawatt (MW) pilot project off Portugal and Scotland between 2011 and 2020. WindFloat Atlantic, a 25MW array off Portugal, has been operating since 2020, while the 48MW Kincardine project off Scotland has been online since 2021.
“These projects have exposed us to the full range of complexity in the sector, providing valuable lessons that we are using to continuously refine and improve our technical and commercial offering,” said Julian Arrillaga Costa, chief executive of Principle Power. “Reaching the 1TWh milestone is a clear validation of our WindFloat technology and the expert team we’ve built to support the design, delivery, and operation of floating wind projects worldwide.”
The company said the WindFloat platforms have operated in challenging offshore environments, including the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea, where they have withstood wave heights of up to 20 metres and wind speeds reaching 214km/h – comparable to a Category 4 typhoon.
Principle Power’s WindFloat design includes a semisubmersible platform architecture, which the company says enhances stability and allows turbines to operate within standard performance and safety limits. Its active hull trim system uses water ballast to offset wind-induced thrust, helping maintain vertical turbine alignment and increasing energy output by up to 2.5% compared to passive systems.
Looking ahead, Principle Power is preparing to connect its 30MW Les Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) project in France to the grid later this year. The company is also collaborating with partners to develop the first wave of commercial-scale floating wind farms in markets including France, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Planned projects are expected to feature 12 to 70 turbines, each with capacities ranging from 15MW to 20MW — nearly double the size of current installations.
