Floating offshore wind park study announced
May 23, 2011 | 
Author Aberdeen group to carry out environmental assessment
Aberdeen based energy consultancy Xodus Group announced last week at the All-Energy conference and exhibition in Aberdeen that it will design and execute an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for Statoil for a possible demonstration project showcasing the world’s first floating offshore wind farm.
Installing the Hywind prototype off Karmoy, Norway
The Hywind turbine is based on the Hywind demonstrator prototype, which has been successfully tested by Statoil in Norway for over a year. Located 10 km offshore Karmøy, the prototype Hywind has a capacity of 2.3 MW. The demonstration stage has boosted knowledge about the operation of floating offshore turbines, and particularly the effects of wind and waves on the structure. An area off the North-east coast of Scotland will now be assessed as a potential candidate for the first pilot ‘park’ of up to five units.
Based on proven semi-submersible technology from the oil and gas industry, Hywind has been designed for deep, rough waters. The floating structure looks very like a conventional wind turbine, but the underwater base of the mast is filled with a ballast of water and rocks. The structure extends some 80 metres beneath the sea’s surface and is attached to the seabed by a three-point mooring. The environmental study, assessing the impacts a deployment of a Hywind Pilot Park may have, will start this summer.
James Ingram, Head of Low Carbon at Xodus Group said: “The Hywind project is unique, and we are delighted to be working with Statoil on this innovative technology. Our team of environmental experts will be carrying out a thorough assessment of the proposed development, in close cooperation with Statoil, to analyse any potential impacts. One of the main advantages of the floating structure is that the turbines do not need to be piled into the seabed, reducing its environmental impact.”
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