Portugal news - Irish offshore wind energy company Gazelle Wind Power will invest around 40 million euros in Portugal and is opening its national headquarters in northern Portugal.
The Irish renewable energy company chose Portugal to develop a local supply chain for offshore wind energy production under the "Nau Azul project. The construction of the wind energy platform, that is scheduled for 2026, is expected to be operational by spring 2027 and should reduce the price of electricity by 80%, according to the CEO Jon Salazar.
The "Nau Azul" pilot project comprises the installation of a 2-megawatt (MW) wind turbine on a platform off the coast of Póvoa do Varzim, in the district of Porto.
However, the offshore wind energy company is planning a future large-scale production of modular floating platforms with 15 to 22 MW wind turbines. This is in line with Portugal’s ambition to allocate 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
The Irish company intends to set-up a local supply chain, including manufacturers of steel plates, of cables and moorings, and electrical substations. Gazelle Wind Power has already established partnerships with Portuguese company WAM Horizon, with INESC TEC and with WavEC Offshore Renewables.