– This is a unique project. The first wind farm in the world to supply electricity to oil and gas installations in operation, says Geir Tungesvik, executive vice president for projects, drilling and acquisitions at Equinor, according to a press release. The first two turbines in the Hywind Tampen floating wind farm in the North Sea started up on Sunday and Monday. Executive Vice President for Projects, Drilling and Procurement in Equinor. Photo: Erik Waage / news The power is delivered to the Gullfaks A platform in the North Sea. Hywind is Norway’s first offshore wind farm and the largest floating wind farm in the world. Reduces CO2 emissions Hywind Tampen wind farm is owned by the partners in the Gullfaks and Snorre fields. It is expected that the wind farm will supply around 35 per cent of the electrical power demand on the two fields. This will reduce the CO2 emissions from the fields by around 200,000 tonnes each year. That corresponds to the emissions of 100,000 private cars that run on fossil fuel, explains Trond Bokn, director of project development at Equinor. Important for Norwegian industry According to the plan, seven out of eleven turbines will be in production during the year. The last four turbines were assembled this autumn and will be installed on the field when the weather permits next year. Bokn believes the project is important for Norwegian industry. Trond Bokn, director of project development at Equinor. Photo: Ingvild Taranger / news – It is also important because it points forward for Equinor and partners because it is part of a restructuring and this shows that we can develop large wind farms, he says. At Hywind Tampen, 60 percent of the investments go to Norwegian suppliers. – If this develops further, there is enormous potential for Norwegian jobs and Norwegian industry in the future, says Bokn. Uncertain consequences for the ecosystem The Institute of Marine Research is in the process of looking at how the ecosystem is affected by a large development of offshore wind. What an even greater development at sea means for the fishing industry and food production, no one knows for sure yet. That is why the national board says no to the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association to open new areas for offshore wind power. For now, the researchers advise against offshore wind farms in important spawning areas. The reason is, among other things, noise from wind turbines. – Important contribution Kjetil Hove, Equinor’s executive director for exploration and production Norway, believes it is an important contribution to changing the Norwegian continental shelf. – Only a few years ago, no one would have believed that platforms could be powered by power from floating wind turbines. Now we’re getting started, says Hove. When seven out of eleven turbines are in operation, Hywind Tampen will be the world’s largest floating wind farm at 60 megawatts. Facts about Hywind Tampen Partners are Equinor, Petoro, OMV, Vår Energi, Wintershall Dea and INPEX Idemitsu. Hywind Tampen has a system capacity of 88 MW. The wind park is located approximately 140 km from land. The water depth is between 260 and 300 metres. The turbines are mounted on a floating concrete structure with a common anchoring system. Enova and Næringslivet’s NoX-fond have supported the project with NOK 2.3 billion and NOK 566 million respectively to stimulate technological development in offshore wind and emission reductions.
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Norway’s first and the world’s largest floating wind farm has started electricity production – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
