Equinor's Hywind Tampen floating wind project enters construction phase

Norwegian energy group Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) has commenced construction of the 88-MW Hywind Tampen floating wind farm that will supply power to the Snorre and Gullfaks oil and gas fields.

Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg took part in the ceremony that took place today. Alongside an apprentice at engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services provider Kvaerner AS, she started the cutting robot on the project's first sheet of steel.

Kvaerner is tasked with building 11 floating concrete hulls for the SG 8.0-167 DD turbines that will be supplied by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE). Among the other contractors are JDR Cable Systems, Subsea 7 AS and Wood Group.

The wind park is being built about 140 km off the Norwegian coast. It is expected to become operational in the third quarter of 2022 following a total investment of just under NOK 5 billion (USD 539m/EUR 458.3m).

Equinor wants floating offshore wind to become competitive with other forms of energy by 2030. The company said it sees potential for installations in Norway, the UK, Europe, the US and Asia.

"By using larger turbines, concrete substructures, new technology and a new assembly method, we're well on our way toward delivering on the objective to reduce costs by more than 40% compared with Hywind Scotland," commented Hywind Tampen project director Olav-Bernt Haga, referring to the 30-MW facility that was officially opened in October 2017.

Equinor estimates that Hywind Tampen will be able to produce enough power to meet some 35% of the annual consumption on the five platforms Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B and C.

(NOK 1.0 = USD 1.078/EUR 0.917)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!