2023-08-23 20:50:00
NEWS RELEASE — Norway today inaugurated the world’s largest floating wind farm in its North Sea waters.
Composed of eleven turbines of 8.6 MW each, the Hywind Tampen field supplies energy to five neighboring oil and gas platforms, meeting around 35% of their needs since the end of 2022. Unlike so-called “standing” offshore wind turbines, fixed on foundations at the bottom of the water, floating wind turbines are mounted on a structure maintained by anchoring devices. They cost more, but can be installed further from the coast.
The technology is still in its infancy, but it is considered promising for environmental purposes.
It was only today that the inauguration took place, orchestrated some 140 km from the coast by Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and the country’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre.
“Europeans and we all need more electricity. The war in Ukraine has reinforced this,” said Støre, quoted by the Norwegian agency NTB. And to complete: “This electricity must be of renewable origin if Europe wants to achieve its climate objectives”.
As AFP reports, the construction of Hywind Tampen cost some 7.4 billion crowns (640 million euros). “Yes, it’s expensive, but someone has to lead the way,” said the Prime Minister.
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