The very first full-scale floating wind farm has started to emerge off the north-east coast of Scotland.
This revolutionary technology allows wind power to be harvested in water which is usually too deep for conventional bottom-standing turbines.
The Peterhead wind farm, also known as Hywing, will bring power to a total of 20,000 houses and its manufacturer, Statoil announced that it should equal or surpass the generation from current turbines.
“This is a tech development project to ensure it’s working in open sea conditions. It’s a game-changer for floating wind power and we are sure it will help bring costs down,” said Leif Delp, project director for Hywind to the BBC.
Only one giant turbine has been moved into place so far and four others are waiting in a Norwegian fjord. All of them should have been towed by end of the month to 15 miles off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, where they’ll float upright like giant fishing floats.
“I think eventually we will see floating wind farms compete without subsidy – but to do that we need to get building at scale,” said Mr Delp.
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