As 2026 draws to a close, the Port of Las Palmas is advancing construction work on an innovative floating offshore wind turbine prototype developed entirely using Spanish technology. The initiative, part of the WHEEL Project (Wind Hybrid Evolution for Low-Carbon Solutions), seeks to validate at pre-commercial scale a new floating platform designed to reduce costs and maximize efficiency in renewable energy generation in deep waters. This content was produced independently by the editorial team and does not constitute paid advertising or stem from any commercial agreement or sponsorship.
What is happening
The floating structure is being assembled at the Gran Canarian port complex using highly engineered formwork systems supplied by ULMA, which has deployed bespoke technical solutions to address the float’s complex geometry. Once the platform assembly and turbine installation are complete, the entire structure will be towed offshore to be moored and anchored off the coast of Gran Canaria, where it will remain in the operational testing phase for 10 years.
Why it matters
The WHEEL Project’s technology introduces a disruptive design compared with conventional floating foundations by reducing the required draft and optimizing the use of construction materials. The choice of the Port of Las Palmas as a manufacturing and testing center reinforces the archipelago’s strategic position as a natural laboratory and a leading industrial hub in the Atlantic for the deployment of marine renewable energy.
Custom engineering for a unique structure
The technical execution of the platform has required the integration of custom-designed formwork systems and molds developed by ULMA. To shape the concrete elements of the structure, BIRA, ORMA, ENKOFORM H-120, ENKOFLEX and BRIO scaffolding systems have been combined to create an integrated support system adapted to the unusual geometric and structural requirements of floating offshore wind power.
The 10-year testing period off the coast of Gran Canaria will make it possible to collect key data on the platform’s dynamic behavior, its resistance to the marine environment and its energy performance, laying the foundations for the future large-scale commercialization of this technology in international markets.
The article Offshore: ULMA and the complexity of the foundation for Esteyco’s WHEEL Project at the Port of Las Palmas was first published on canarymaritime.com.
