– It is simply a result of us sharpening our priorities in renewable energy, and then this project did not reach further, says press spokesperson for exploration and production internationally for Equinor, Ola Morten Aanestad. Equinor’s plan was to, together with Moss Maritime, build a test facility for floating solar power outside Frøya in Trøndelag. Here, the sea is rough and the weather harsh. – If we succeed outside Frøya, we can succeed everywhere, said manager of the technology unit that works with wind power and solar energy at Equinor, Hanne Wigum, two years ago. Now, Equinor points, among other things, to fierce competition on the renewables market as a reason for moving away from the original plans. Want to work with offshore wind and solar cells on land – Self-developed floating solar energy is no longer an area that comes up when we have to prioritize our resources. We are reprioritizing the investment in renewable energy both in terms of the use of money and the wise minds, says Aanestad. Equinor indicates that they have put efforts into both offshore wind and the development of solar cell systems on land in recent years. – Offshore wind is our most important renewable investment. This applies, among other things, in Great Britain, the United States and on the Norwegian continental shelf, says Aanestad. Two projects have been selected by the government as the first large areas for offshore wind in Norway. The government aims to launch the first phase of Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira north of offshore wind by the end of the first quarter in 2023. This image is from Equinor’s Hywind Tampen plant in the UK. Photo: Karoline Rivero Bernacki / Equinor ASA Utsira nord lies west of Utsira and Haugalandet. Southern North Sea II borders the Danish economic zone in the southeast of the North Sea. Equinor has expressed an interest in participating in both projects. The hearings have recently concluded. The development of solar cells on land for Equinor mainly takes place abroad. – We are investing in solar cells on land in Brazil, Argentina and Poland, among others, says Aanestad. Apodi Solar in Brazil, 2018. The plant, which has a capacity of 162 MW, was Equinor’s first step into solar energy. Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland / Equinor The mayor thinks it’s a shame For the local environment on Frøya, the reprioritisation of Equinor came as a surprise. – It’s a terrible shame that nothing comes of this, says mayor of Frøya, Kristin Furunes Strømskag. The municipality was informed by Equinor before Christmas. – The municipality’s role has been to assist Equinor. We have been a link between them and, among other things, the business community here. The project is clarified in the municipality’s planning work. We have had a very good collaboration, says Strømskag. The municipality has arranged for the test facility, and set aside sea areas. Construction of a test facility for floating solar power outside Frøya in Trøndelag should provide knowledge about energy production at sea. There is a lot of wind and weather here. Photo: Stein Lorentzen / news – A lot of mapping has been done of, among other things, the bottom conditions in the sea. We think it has been exciting to facilitate the development of alternative power production, says Strømskag. The original plan was that, among other things, solar cells were to be installed on rafts of 80 x 80 metres. The power was to be brought to shore by cables. – We are very grateful for the good cooperation we have had with the municipality and skilled local suppliers, says Aanestad. NVE granted a two-year license to the plans. – It is possible that a scaled-down test project will be run, but we have not reached a conclusion. Moss Maritime and we must discuss this. The conclusion will come in the first quarter of this year, says Aanestad. Press spokesperson for exploration and production internationally for Equinor, Ola Morten Aanestad, does not rule out that a scaled-down test version of floating solar cells could be run outside Frøya. Photo: Equinor Equinor has been criticized for the fact that a very small proportion of the company’s total energy production is renewable.
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Project with floating solar cell plant outside Frøya is being discontinued – news Trøndelag
