Gazelle Wind Power progresses Portuguese floating wind pilot

Gazelle Wind Power has teamed up with renewable energy developer WAM Horizon to accelerate the development of a floating wind pilot plant in Aguçadoura, Portugal.

WAM will provide Gazelle with strategic advice to implement the floating wind platform, which uses a unique design to respond to waves through the action of a central counterweight connected to tripodal arms anchored to the seabed.

According to Gazelle, the geometric design makes the platform move horizontally and vertically with wind and waves, with almost zero pitch angle, minimising wear and tear on components.

A pitch of less than 10º allows for a longer life for the wind turbine generator increasing ROI.

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Gazelle CEO Jon Salazar commented on the partnership: “WAM Horizon has exceptional offshore wind experience in the region, making them an ideal partner to support Gazelle’s project and help position our one-of-a-kind platform as the benchmark solution for floating offshore platforms.”

Portugal-based WAM Horizon’s Chairman, Adelino Costa Matos, also serves as a non-executive director on the Gazelle Board.

The WAM team will contribute experience in supporting and developing offshore wind, including involvement in the 25MW WindFloat Atlantic Project.

WindFload Atlantic signals the traction floating offshore wind has gained in Portugal. The country is seen as an important destination for offshore wind with the recently announced target of 10GW by 2030.