Floating wind turbine

The world's first full-scale floating wind turbine, the 2.3 MW Hywind, being assembled in the Åmøy Fjord near Stavanger, Norway in 2009, before deployment in the North Sea

A floating wind turbine is an offshore wind turbine mounted on a floating structure that allows the turbine to generate electricity in water depths where fixed-foundation turbines are not feasible.[1][2] Floating wind farms have the potential to significantly increase the sea area available for offshore wind farms, especially in countries with limited shallow waters, such as Spain, Portugal, Japan, France and the United States' West Coast. Locating wind farms further offshore can also reduce visual pollution,[2] provide better accommodation for fishing and shipping lanes,[3][4] and reach stronger and more consistent winds.[5]

Commercial floating wind turbines are mostly at the early phase of development, with several single turbine prototypes having been installed since 2007. As of 2023, there are 4 operational floating wind farms, at a combined 193 MW.[citation needed]

The Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm, recognized as the world's largest, began operating in August 2023. Located approximately 140 kilometers off the coast of Norway, it consists of 11 turbines and is expected to supply about 35% of the electricity needs for five nearby oil and gas platforms.[6]

  1. ^ Deign, Jason (19 October 2020). "So, What Exactly Is Floating Offshore Wind?". www.greentechmedia.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Laskow, Sarah (13 September 2011). "Hope Floats for a New Generation of Deep-Water Wind Farms". Good Environment. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  3. ^ Mark Svenvold (9 September 2009). "The world's first floating wind turbine goes on line in Norway". DailyFinance.com. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  4. ^ Union of Concerned Scientists (15 July 2003). "Farming the Wind: Wind Power and Agriculture". Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Musial2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Frangoul, Anmar (23 August 2023). "The world's largest floating wind farm is now officially open — and helping to power North Sea oil operations". CNBC. Retrieved 8 March 2024.