New floating wind projects at Norwegian test centre eye 15MW-plus turbines
Testing of three platforms with larger machines relevant for future of floating offshore wind, industry group says
Three new floating offshore wind projects have signed contracts with Norway’s METCentre to test rigs topped by 15MW-plus turbines, Norwegian Offshore Wind said without naming companies or platform types.
The industry group stressed turbine sizes above 15MW will be relevant for future floating offshore wind farms, and claimed no other places in the world could carry out testing at this scale.
“This is very good news for innovation in floating offshore wind,” said Arvid Nesse, head of METCentre and Norwegian Offshore Wind.
“The technologies now being planned at METCentre will be crucial when we get started with Utsira Nord.”
The new test projects at METCentre are all competing for funding by state-owned enterprise Enova and are therefore currently confidential, Norwegian Offshore Wind said.
“We are the only place in the world ready with permits to test projects of this capacity,” Nesse said.
“If we are to get floating offshore wind started in Norway without further delays, it must begin at METCentre, so we can gain important knowledge from both the construction and operation processes, and thereby achieve the necessary cost reductions before Utsira Nord.
“To ensure diversity in both the supply chain and technology, we believe it is crucial that these three projects all receive support so that they can be realized before the start of Utsira Nord.”
Testing and demonstration projects significantly contribute to reducing the cost of floating wind, he added.
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