Geir Tungesvik from Equinor, Equinor’s executive vice president of projects, drilling, and procurement, stated that the “unique” windfarm, which is located on floating concrete structures with an integrated mooring system, is the first to power oil and natural gas installations.
The first power from Hywind Tampen’s wind turbine was sent out to the Gullfaks Oil and Gas Field. It is expected that it will help to power approximately 35% of the North Sea’s Gullfaks & Snorre oil and gas fields’ electricity needs. Equinor expects that it will have 11 turbines in operation by 2023 with a total system power of 88 megawatts. This will allow it to support the production of fossil fuels.
The government of Norway has stated previously that it is committed to reducing emissions and growing the country’s oil-and-gas industry.
According to Reuters, a coalition made up of Labour Party and Centre Party in Norway declared that the Norwegian oil industry would be developed, rather than dismantled in a 2021 joint policy document.
According to the company, its power will aid in Norway’s energy transition as well as Europe’s energy security. e
Hywind Tampen, once completed, will include 11 turbines that have a total of 88 megawatts (MW) of power.
Equinor previously stated that only seven turbines would be connected in the first round. The last units will be delayed until next year due to global supply chain bottlenecks.
Equinor stated that even with seven turbines on stream, Hywind Tampen will still be the largest floating wind farm in the world with a capacity to 60 MW.
Equinor operates a 30MW offshore floating wind farm in Britain called Hywind Scotland since 2017.
Equinor claims Hywind Tampen will reduce local gas power consumption and “thus reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by around 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of emissions from 100,000 vehicles.”
Norway is the leader in electric cars per capita. It plans to build 30 GW offshore wind by 2040. The country in Scandinavia is also the largest producer of oil and gas in Western Europe. Norway’s petroleum sector accounts for around 40% of its exports, and 14% in its gross domestic product.
According to the Norwegian government, it plans to reduce its net emissions by 55% in 2030, compared with 1990 levels. This is in line with EU targets. Norway, however, says that its transition to clean energy will not be as rapid as its EU neighbours and that it does not intend to abandon oil and gas exploration.
