Equinor and Masdar have completed a heavy maintenance campaign on the 30MW Hywind Scotland, with all five turbines now connected.
To complete the campaign, the turbines were towed to Wergeland Base in Gulen, Norway.
This was the safest, most efficient and proven method, as towing the turbines to shore allowed the operations to take place in a controlled, sheltered environment, Equinor and Masdar said.
Equinor vice president of UK operations Trine Ulla said: “The successful completion of the maintenance campaign on Hywind Scotland is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our teams and partners.
“As the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, Hywind Scotland has demonstrated the immense potential of floating wind.
“Through this maintenance campaign, we’ve gained valuable insights that will help us refine maintenance practices and optimise this technology for the future.
“By sharing our learnings, we aim to contribute to the growth and development of the floating wind industry.”
Husain Al Meer, Masdar’s director for Global Offshore Wind & UK, said: “With our track record for pioneering projects using cutting-edge clean energy technologies, Masdar is proud of our longstanding partnership with Equinor on Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating offshore wind farm.
“The successful completion of this maintenance on Hywind Scotland ensures that it will continue to deliver impressive performance and demonstrate the viability and potential of floating offshore wind as a source for renewable energy.”
As the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, Hywind Scotland, located off the coast of Peterhead, Scotland, has achieved a capacity factor of 54%.