Norwegian companies Seawind Systems and Dr Techn Olav Olsen have formed an alliance to develop a two-bladed offshore wind turbine on concrete fixed and floating gravity-based foundations.
The companies are jointly investing in a 6.2MW demonstration project at the MetCentre facility in Karmøy in Norway that is planned to be operating next year.
The project will use foundations designed by Olav Olsen and Seawind’s two-blade turbine.
Seawind chief executive Martin Jakubowski said: “The high cost of wind energy is due to the fact that current offshore models are modified versions of heavy, three-bladed onshore turbines, not made for offshore operations.
“Seawind will offer the first 6.2MW two-bladed upwind energy turbine specifically designed for offshore.”
Jakubowski added that the turbine has “teetering hinge and yaw control” built for violent offshore conditions.
It contains less material and fewer parts, has longer expected life and onboard maintainability, he said.
Image: Seawind
