Off the island of Karmøy north of Stavanger, StatoilHydro will install the world’s first full-scale floating windmill for testing over a two-year period.
The company is investing around NOK 400 million for building and further development of the pilot project, in addition to research and development of the windmill concept. Planned production start is in the autumn of 2009.
This is a research project involving the use of floating structures, known from the offshore industry, as a jacket for offshore windmills.
The concept is developed by StatoilHydro, and combines various familiar technologies in a new way. We also use new technology, which we have developed in cooperation with Sintef, to be able to control the wind power during energy production.
The rotor blades of the floating windmill will have a diameter of around 80 metres and the tower will rise about 65 metres above seal level. The floating element will extend 100 metres beneath the surface and will be fastened to the seabed by three anchor piles. The windmill can be placed in water depths of 120 to 700 metres.
The windmill itself will be built by Siemens. Technip will build the floating elements and be in charge of the offshore installation. Nexans will install the cable to shore and Haugaland Kraft will be responsible for the landfall. Enova has granted NOK 59 million to the project.
By moving wind power plants offshore, we apply our offshore oil and gas expertise to further develop renewable energy.
Turbine capacity: 2.3 MW
Turbine weight: 138 tonnes
Turbine height: 65 m
Rotor diameter: 82.4 m
Floating element’s length below sea level: 100 m
Total weight: 5300 tonnes
Diameter of the turbine at sea level: 6 m
Diameter of the floating element: 8.3 m
Water depth: 120-700 metres
Number of anchor piles: 3
Planned start-up: 2009
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