Gazelle Wind Power secures €11.4m in funding round

The funding will further accelerate the development of Nau Azul, Gazelle’s 2MW grid-connected demonstrator in Aguçadoura, Portugal.

Led by Indico Capital Partners, other investors included DST Group, August One, Wah Kwong, and E2IN2, among others. 

“Indico’s reputation for backing pioneering, sustainable technologies speaks volumes about the potential they see in our floating wind platform technology unlocking the offshore wind industry globally,” said Jon Salazar, CEO of Gazelle Wind Power. “The Nau Azul project will serve as an example of how to design, build, install, operate and therefore enable cost-competitive floating wind energy generation.”

Gazelle’s next generation floating offshore wind platform is claimed to address industry challenges including high mass production and installation costs, complex supply chain logistics, limited suitable installation sites, reducing the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) whilst mitigating the environmental impact of traditional platforms on marine ecosystems. 

The platform’s patented dynamic mooring system reduces pitch and balances movement in response to external forces, including wind, waves, and tide.

Its lightweight, modular design is based on naval engineering principles, does not use active ballasting systems, and allows for scalable, adaptable configurations, making it an affordable and accessible solution for deep water deployment. The modularity of Gazelle’s components also enables cost-effective fabrication in shipyards, with final assembly near the wind farm site.

Stephan de Moraes, co-founder and managing general partner at Indico Capital Partners, said: “Offshore renewables will be a fundamental contributor to a more sustainable energy production mix. For costs to be competitive we need new ways to build, install and operate these mega structures. Gazelle offers a solution for that pressing problem of cost competitiveness with a ‘lego’ type of structure that will bring costs down dramatically and enables the installation of deep-sea wind farms all over the world.”

Gazelle said its approach is expected to drive job creation, reduce emissions, and provide cost-effective renewable energy solutions. As well as its premises in Reading, the company has opened an office near the Nau Azul project site in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, to enhance engineering, technical, and administrative functions. This local presence will support Gazelle’s efforts to establish floating offshore wind supply chain networks, leveraging local shipbuilding expertise in design, fabrication, and deployment.

“Gazelle Wind Power offers an exciting new solution to the complex challenge of creating floating offshore wind farms that are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and durable in open-sea conditions,” said José Teixeira, chairman of DST Group. “We believe that DST Group’s strong track record in manufacturing, engineering, construction, and renewable energy will add tremendous value to the development and construction of Nau Azul.”