Eight years of observations of the three WindFloat Atlantic floating platforms off the coast of Viana do Castelo in Portugal have shown an unexpected result: more than 270 marine species have been recorded in the project area. Among them are 52 species of fish, five marine mammals, 33 species of birds, and three species of bats. The structures, installed in waters 95–100 meters deep, not only generate 25 MW of electricity but also create conditions for a noticeable increase in the abundance of octopuses, rays, and other fish compared to control areas.
Key factors were the artificial reef effect of the submerged parts of the platforms and the fishing ban in the protected zone. These measures turned the site into a local refuge where the abundance and biomass of octopuses and some commercial fish species were higher than outside the project. Observations did not reveal any significant negative impact on marine mammals, birds, and bats; on the contrary, in some groups, an increase in presence was noted.
The project, commissioned in 2020, was the world's first semi-submersible floating wind farm. The monitoring, carried out by Ocean Winds together with independent experts, covered the period from 2018 and included comparisons with neighboring waters. The results show that floating structures can coexist with the marine ecosystem while providing clean energy for approximately 25 thousand Portuguese households.
Such findings challenge the common perception of offshore energy as exclusively a source of conflict with nature. Instead, the platforms act as peculiar "islands of stability" in the open ocean, where fishing is prohibited and where hard surfaces facilitate the settlement of benthic organisms. This does not negate the need for careful planning when scaling up the technology, but it provides concrete data for assessing the real impact.
The report, presented at WindEurope 2026, emphasizes that the project area functions as a local reserve, supporting biodiversity and serving as a feeding ground for marine life. Such observations are important for understanding how engineering solutions can integrate into existing ecosystems without destroying them.
