Norway’s Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre) is to host three floating wind pilots to test technologies aimed at reducing costs of floating offshore wind.
The pilots will demonstrate floaters with 15MW+ turbines.
METCentre told reNEWS the companies’ names cannot be disclosed until the application process is completed.
METCentre’s facilities are equipped to test turbines of this size, which will be relevant for future floating offshore wind farms.
In late 2023, METCentre, located off the west coast of Norway, received approval to expand its test area with up to four new test sites.
The world’s first floating offshore wind turbine is already located at the site, along with the Stiesdal-developed TetraSpar (pictured).
In total, there is space for seven turbines at the site, which can together produce up to 85MW.
The test area is located just a few kilometres away from the Utsira Nord area, where Norway’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm will be located.
“This is very good news for innovation in floating offshore wind. The technologies now being planned at METCentre will be crucial when we get started with Utsira Nord,” said Arvid Nesse, head of METCentre and Norwegian Offshore Wind.
The new test projects are all competing for funding and are therefore currently confidential.
Nesse added: “We are the only place in the world ready with permits to test projects of this capacity.
“If we are to get floating offshore wind started in Norway without further delays, it must begin at METCentre, so we can gain important knowledge from both the construction and operation processes, and thereby achieve the necessary cost reductions before Utsira Nord.
“Everything is in place here for Norway to take a leadership role in developing new technology and reducing costs in floating offshore wind.”
He added: “The most important thing the Norwegian government can do now is investing in demo and test projects, to ensure that commercial projects in the future will be profitable and require less risk mitigation.”