Ocean Winds has extended its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) long-term contract with Principle Power for the 25MW WindFloat Atlantic Project.
This extension further affirms the operational success of the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm and first floating wind project to secure bank financing, the partners said.
Since the project’s first WindFloat unit was installed in 2019, Principle Power has provided O&M services to Ocean Winds, which oversees the asset management of WindFloat Atlantic on behalf of the project consortium.
These services include Inspections, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) activities, with integrated engineering support, to ensure maximum uptime and availability. Additionally, Principle Power has been providing remote monitoring and data analytics services to measure and enhance project performance.
As a result of the close collaboration with the project’s stakeholders, WindFloat Atlantic has exceeded initial power expectations in its first five years of operations.
The project has also proved resilient in extreme weather conditions, withstanding 20-metre waves and wind gusts of 139 km/h without any structural damage, the partners said.
Ocean Winds has coordinated health and safety for all platform operations with Principle Power, resulting in zero lost time accidents.
Asset senior lead associate at Ocean Winds Daniel Ribeiro said: “At Ocean Winds, we are pleased to continue collaborating and extend our long-term contract with our partner Principle Power.
“Together with the WindFloat Atlantic team, Principle Power helps us deliver a high-quality operational service that prioritises safety and allows us to consistently exceed the production expectations of this pioneering project each year, demonstrating the readiness of floating technology for the commercial-scale phase.”
Vice-president of O&M at Principle Power Clara de Moura Santos said: “The extended contract further validates the maturity of our WindFloat technology and highlights Principle Power’s expertise designing and operating floating foundations.”