First floating wind turbine launches in Norway

subscribe

The world's first full-scale floating wind turbine, StatoilHydro's 'Hywind,' took to the high seas for a two-year trial that will lead to wind turbines that can be deployed in much deeper waters than currently possible.

StatoilHydro ASA said the 2.3-megawatt (MW) Hywind turbine will be located 10 kilometres off the Norwegian coast, southwest of Karmoy island. The company claimed that Hywind can be located in waters ranging from 100 metres to 700 metres deep.

Delivered on schedule and within budget, StatoilHydro is investing 39 million euros (US$57 million) in the project, with another 7 million euros (US$10.2 million) provided by Enova Systems Incorporated.

Hywind consists of a 2.3-MW turbine installed on a traditional floater, similar to those used for production platforms and offshore loading. France's Technip SA built the floater, a steel and concrete buoy with ballast tanks, which will extend about 100 metres below the surface of the water. This lower centre of gravity should result in less platform movement.

The turbine was manufactured by Siemens AG and will sit 65 metres above the surface of the sea. The structure will be anchored to the seabed with a three-point mooring line.

"Today, we're inaugurating the pilot facility, which could help floating wind turbines to make an important contribution in the longer term to meeting the world's big demand for energy," said Margareth Ovrum, Executive Vice President for Technology & New Energy at StatoilHydro.

"Floating wind power remains an immature technology, and the road to commercialization and full-scale construction of wind farms will be long. Our goal with the Hywind pilot is to test how wind and waves affect the structure, learn how the operating concept can be optimized, and identify technology gaps."

Gunnar Myreboe, Executive Vice President for Projects & Procurement in StatoilHydro, added: "We've drawn on experience acquired during 30 years on the Norwegian continental shelf to realize this groundbreaking project. In that respect, our close collaboration with the supplies industry has played a key role in the success of the Hywind development."

Related News

SDG&E Wants More Money From Customers Who Don’t Buy Much Electricity. A Lot More.

SAN DIEGO - The utility San Diego Gas & Energy has an aggressive proposal pending before the California Public Utilities Commission: It wants to charge most residential customers a minimum bill of $38.40 each month, regardless of how much energy they use. The costs of this policy would hit low-income customers and those who generate their own energy with rooftop solar. We’re urging the Commission to oppose this flawed plan—and we need your help.

SDG&E’s proposal is bad news for sustainable energy. About half of the customers whose bills would go up under this proposal have rooftop solar. The policy would…

READ MORE
byron_unit_2_nuclear

Hitachi freezes British nuclear project, books $2.8bn hit

READ MORE

Europe to Weigh Emergency Measures to Limit Electricity Prices

READ MORE

powerlines

Biden administration pushes to revitalize coal communities with clean energy projects

READ MORE

electric cement

Electrifying: New cement makes concrete generate electricity

READ MORE