The Netherlands is testing a floating wind turbine that could completely change the way wind energy is produced. We all know the world is advancing very fast toward clean energy technologies, and countries are competing to create more efficient, more powerful, and more intelligent machines. Maybe not many people know what a wind turbine is, so it will be so difficult for them to picture a floating one. So, let’s explain how this creation works.
What makes this floating wind turbine so special?
The floating wind turbine created in the Netherlands is not like the traditional turbines we normally see, these new ones have three blades, and are fixed to a tall tower. However, this new turbine:
- Only has one blade.
- Is designed to work in deep waters of the ocean.
- Is stable even with strong winds.
- Can keep working with winds up to 240 km/h, while common turbines stop working when the wind is over 90 km/h.
Who created it?
The company behind this idea is TouchWind, a company from the Netherlands with more than 30 years of experience in the wind engineering field. Its idea is to create turbines that are: simpler, cheaper, more resistant, more efficient, and that can be used anywhere in the world.
TouchWind believes that using only one blade can increase the energy production and reduce the construction and maintenance costs.
How the floating wind turbine works
This new technology might be difficult to understand how it works, so let’s explain how it works:
- One huge blade: the turbine has a 200 m high blade and it can produce 12 MW, a very high amount of energy. Its design allows the turbine to tilt backward, helping it stay stable as winds get stronger.
- Built for deep waters: common turbines cNan’t be built in very deep areas of the ocean because it would be too expensive and complicated. However, this new turbine is thought specifically for those areas, where the wind is stronger and constant.
- Environmentally friendly: this floating wind turbine allows us to make the most of the ocean space to generate clean energy without damaging marine life, which is a very positive point.
When it all begun
TouchWind started testing this technology in 2019. The Netherlands government supported the project with financial help and it later asked the company to build 10 turbines.
During 2024 and 2025, the company continued testing to better understand how the turbine in the ocean behaves in comparison to the ones on land. The goal is to increase the energy produced in wind farms thanks to this technology.
It’s also important to mention that TouchWind isn’t the only one involved in the project, Touchwind was behind the main idea, but there are other collaborations:
- MARIN: it helped test the turbine in water tanks.
- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines: invested money and provided strategic support.
- We4Ce: designed the rotor blade.
- The Dutch Government: funded part of the project to keep development moving forward.
This shows that big innovations tend to come up when several organizations work together.
Why this turbine is so important
Well, as you have read, this new wind turbine is more advanced and has more benefits than common ones. Also, it is a symbol for technological advance proving technology never stops. It allows using the ocean to obtain energy without damaging the surrounding.
So, thanks to TouchWind and its collaborators, this technology could open a new door to the production of renewable energy. This is a great example of how innovation can transform how we use the ocean and help us build a cleaner and more sustainable future.