OSLO, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Norwegian energy firm Equinor (EQNR.OL) and its partners will inaugurate the world’s largest floating offshore wind power farm on Wednesday, whose output will supply nearby oil and gas platforms and cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The Hywind Tampen wind farm, where Equinor is partnering with other oil firms including OMV (OMVV.VI), Vaar Energi – majority-owned by ENI (ENI.MI) – started producing power in November last year, with full output reached earlier this month.
Its 88 megawatts of capacity will cover around 35% of annual power demand for five platforms at the Snorre and Gullfaks oil and gas fields in the North Sea, about 140 kms (87 miles) off Norway’s west coast.
This will cut CO2 emissions from the fields by about 200,000 tonnes per year, Equinor has said. That is 0.4% of Norway’s total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2022.
Equinor logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing Rights
Some environmentalists say the move is positive as it helps bring down the country’s CO2 emissions, while others say Norway should instead stop producing oil and gas.
Hywind Tampen comprises 11 wind turbines fixed to a floating base that is anchored to the seafloor, rather than fixed to the ocean bed, a new technology industry experts say is suitable for use in deeper waters offshore and that Equinor hopes to develop further.
Norway, which is targeting 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2040, which would double the country’s current power output, is tendering its first commercial wind farms, including three floating ones, this autumn.
Equinor’s other parners on the project are Wintershall Dea, majority-owned by BASF (BASFn.DE), INPEX Idemitsu (1605.T) and Norway’s Petoro.
($1 = 10.5859 Norwegian crowns)
Reporting by Nora Buli, editing by Gwladys Fouche and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
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