Vertico and Sperra have successfully deployed a full-scale 3D concrete printed gravity anchor at the Alto Rabagão reservoir in Portugal. The project, conducted in collaboration with Fred. Olsen 1848, utilized Vertico's large-scale concrete additive manufacturing technology to produce the anchor for testing within a floating solar laboratory environment. The structure was designed to withstand extreme conditions, including 31 m/s wind events and 60 meters of water depth, demonstrating the viability of site-specific, digitally optimized concrete components for offshore renewable energy infrastructure.

This deployment addresses the logistical and material efficiency challenges inherent in traditional gravity-based anchoring systems for floating solar and wind energy. By moving production closer to the installation site and utilizing additive manufacturing to optimize geometry for specific load requirements, Sperra aims to reduce the carbon footprint and material consumption associated with heavy marine infrastructure. This application highlights a transition toward localized, on-demand manufacturing for civil engineering, moving beyond the prototyping phase into functional, high-load industrial deployment.

For the additive manufacturing sector, this project validates the structural integrity of 3D printed concrete in harsh, high-load marine environments. The next phase for Vertico and Sperra involves scaling production workflows to meet the commercial requirements of larger offshore energy farms. Buyers and project developers should focus on the long-term durability data generated from this pilot to assess the cost-benefit ratio of printed concrete versus traditional pre-cast alternatives in deep-water applications.