Principle Power, a leading developer of floating offshore wind technology, announced today that its WindFloat 1, WindFloat Atlantic, and Kincardine projects have collectively surpassed 75 megawatts (MW) of cumulative power generation. This significant operational milestone, achieved over 14 years since the deployment of the pioneering WindFloat 1 prototype, underscores the increasing maturity and commercial viability of floating offshore wind solutions.

The three projects, all utilizing Principle Power's patented WindFloat semi-submersible foundation technology, represent critical steps in the industrialization of floating wind. WindFloat 1, a 2 MW prototype deployed off the coast of Portugal in 2011, demonstrated the technology's resilience and performance in challenging marine environments. This was followed by WindFloat Atlantic, a 25 MW project (comprising three 8.4 MW turbines) also off Portugal, which became Europe's first semi-submersible floating wind farm in 2019. The Kincardine project, located off Aberdeen, Scotland, and operational since 2021, added 50 MW (five 9.5 MW turbines and one 2 MW turbine), becoming the world's largest operational floating wind farm at the time of its full commissioning.

João Metelo, CEO of Principle Power, commented on the achievement, stating, "Reaching this 75 MW generation milestone across our portfolio is a testament to the dedication of our teams and the proven reliability of our WindFloat technology. It provides invaluable operational data and demonstrates that floating offshore wind is not just a concept, but a robust, scalable solution ready for large-scale deployment. This long-term operational track record is crucial for de-risking future projects and attracting further investment into the sector."

The successful operation of these projects addresses key technical challenges associated with deep-water wind energy, including dynamic loads, mooring systems, and grid integration. Floating foundations enable the deployment of wind turbines in water depths exceeding 60 meters, opening vast new areas for wind farm development globally, particularly in regions with limited shallow-water coastlines. The cumulative generation figures provide essential performance data, reinforcing investor confidence and accelerating the path towards cost reduction through economies of scale and optimized design.

This milestone comes at a time of accelerating global interest in offshore wind, with floating technology projected to play an increasingly dominant role in meeting ambitious renewable energy targets. The validation provided by Principle Power's operational history is expected to catalyze further investment and development in the floating offshore wind market, which is poised for substantial growth in the coming decade.