On October 18, the AquaWind prototype was towed and installed in the test area of the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands(PLOCAN). This phase marks the beginning of testing in real sea conditions for an infrastructure that merges floating wind energy with advanced marine aquaculture.
The installation of the AquaWind prototype
The structure integrates W2Power technology, a dual-turbine wind platform developed by the Spanish firm EnerOcean, with a fish farming cage equipped with remote monitoring systems and next-generation networks. This device seeks to validate the technical and environmental feasibility of a multi-use approach to marine space, integrating renewable energy and food production at the same site.
The offshore operation was led by EnerOcean and was supported by entities such as Capitanía Marítima de Las Palmas, Astican, Boluda, Miller and Trames. Prior to deployment, the system underwent rigorous validation in the Port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where the wind turbine components were integrated into the system. wind and aquaculture and aquaculture components were integrated with the collaboration of INNOSEA.
On the other hand, WAVEC conducted an initial environmental study with the support of PLOCAN, ULPGC and CANEXMAR, evaluating water quality, sediments and underwater noise. At the same time, a group of researchers from GOBCAN-ACIISI and ULPGC tested the cage system with sea bream as a model species, obtaining data on growth, health and stress biomarkers in the port of Taliarte.
In the coming months, the team will evaluate the system’s performance in the open ocean, focusing on fish survival, growth and quality, as well as structural strength and environmental impact. There are also plans to integrate additional species such as amberjack to expand the biological database.
The medium-term goal is to demonstrate that this dual platform can be replicated and adapted to other marine environments, favoring a sustainable energy and food transition. Digitalization of control, scalable business model and international collaboration are essential pillars of AquaWind’s future vision.
This project is financially supported by the European Union under grant agreement no. 101077600. Strategic partners include ACIISI, ULPGC, EnerOcean, CANEXMAR, PLOCAN, Consulta Europa, the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, WAVEC and INNOSEA.
Source and photo: AquaWind
