World’s first floating wind farm starts operating

A floating wind farm has started to operate in Scotland and is already generating off-shore wind power and delivering electricity.

Called the ‘Hywind Project’, the wind farm could power around 20,000 houses. Launched by the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, the farm is located approximately 25 kilometers off the shores of Scottish town of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. The project is a successful result of 15 years of work by Statoil – a Norwegian energy organization. According to Sturgeon, this project is an evidence of Scotland’s “international reputation” for renewable energy.

As per BBC, Sturgeon expressed, “This pilot project underlines the potential of Scotland's huge offshore wind resource and positions Scotland at the forefront of the global race to develop the next generation of offshore wind technologies. In addition to the green benefits of renewable energy, it also has a very significant contribution to make to our economy.”

China’s largest floating solar power plant goes online

The farm is spread across a 4 square km area and is made up of five 6 MV turbines. Being around 830 feet tall, around 256 feet of the wind turbines have been submerged underwater. The installation of the turbine is expected to add 30 MV of power to the local grid.

A benefit of this is that its floating turbines can function in water up to 800 meters deep. The turbines float in water between 95 and 129 meters deep.  Each of the turbines is tied to the bottom of the sea by strong heavy chains that weigh about 1,323 tons, reported New Atlas. 

Statoil’s executive vice president for New Energy Solutions, Irene Rummelhoff exclaimed, “Through industry and supportive policies, the UK and Scotland is taking a position at the forefront of developing offshore wind as a competitive new energy source.”

He further continued, “Statoil has an ambition to reduce the costs of energy from the Hywind floating wind farm to €40 - 60/MWh (US$47 – $71) by 2030. Knowing that up to 80% of the offshore wind resources are in deep waters where traditional bottom fixed installations are not suitable, floating offshore wind is expected to play a significant role in the growth of offshore wind going forward.”