The world’s largest floating windfarm will soon be constructed off of the coast of Peterhead, Scotland. Construction for the windfarm is set to begin next year.
The Norwegian oil company Statoil plans to build a massive windfarm that will consist of five massive turbines. These turbines will supposedly be able to power nearly 20,000 homes. The project will represent the first ever floating windfarm by a country of the United Kingdom.
Executive vice president of Statoil Irene Rummelhoff said, “Floating wind represents a new, significant and increasingly competitive renewable energy source. Statoil’s objective with developing this pilot park is to demonstrate a commercial, utility-scale floating wind solution, to further increase the global market potential. We are proud to develop this unique project in Scotland, in a region that has optimal wind conditions, a strong supply chain within oil and gas and supportive public policies.”
The development is being called Hywind Scotland. It differs from traditional offshore windfarms by making use of turbines that are attached to the floor of the sea using a three-point mooring spread and an associated anchoring system. The turbines will be interconnected using cables which transport the electricity to the Peterhead shore.
According to energy experts, this floating wind concept might be able to substantially reduce generating costs for offshore developments. This would revolutionize energy production, opening the door for additional innovative facilities in the future.
Deputy first minister, John Swinney, said, “Hywind is a hugely exciting project in terms of electricity generation and technology innovation, and it’s a real testament to our energy sector expertise and skilled workforce that Statoil chose Scotland for the world’s largest floating windfarm. The momentum is building around the potential for floating offshore wind technology to unlock deeper water sites. The ability to leverage existing infrastructure and supply chain capabilities from the offshore oil and gas industry create the ideal conditions to position Scotland as a world leader in floating wind technology.”
Indeed, this new offshore power technology looks extremely promising. It wouldn’t be surprising to see similar facilities announced in the future.
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