Equinor has signed contracts worth NOK3bn (€322m) with Kvaerner, Siemens Gamesa, JDR and Subsea 7 to build the 88MW Hywind Tampen floating wind project.
Equinor technology, projects and drilling vice president Anders Opedal said, “The signing of major contracts (on behalf of Gullfaks and Snorre partners) is a key milestone in realising the Hywind Tampen pioneer project.
“Won in international competition, the contracts prove that the oil and gas industry is also competitive for renewables projects. The awarded contracts will generate considerable spin-offs in Norway.”
Kvaerner’s contract with Equinor, which is worth around NOK1.5bn, comprises engineering, procurement, and construction of the of the 11 floating concrete hulls which will carry the wind turbines (see video below).
In addition, Kvaerner’s contract extends to delivery of the marine operations phase, including full project management, engineering, assembly site management, mooring system installation, units tow-to-field and installation of the floating wind turbine units at the Tampen site.
Marine operations will be performed as an integrated subcontract to the main contract, executed in a 50/50 joint venture between Kvaerner and DOF Subsea.
The initial phase of constructing the 11 concrete hulls will start in the drydock at Kvaerner’s specialised facility at Stord in Norway.
The bottom sections will thereafter be floated to the site at Dommersnes in the Vindafjord where the construction will be completed.
Finally, the wind turbines will be installed on top of the concrete hulls in Gulen, further north. The project will start immediately and be completed during Autumn 2022 and will involve about 250 man-years for Kvaerner employees
Including other suppliers and public sector, the project will in total involve about 800 man-years.
Kvaerner CEO Karl-Petter Loken said: “The Hywind Tampen project paves the way for more wind power farms both in Norway and internationally.
“Today’s new contract is a very important step in Kvaerner’s strategy to grow within renewable business, in addition to our existing business within oil and gas.
“It was an important milestone for us when we in spring of 2019 were asked to participate in early phase engineering for Hywind Tampen, and thus contribute to develop the solution which we will now start to construct. This year, we have also started to recruit new concrete specialists, because we see more opportunities for Kvaerner to participate in important projects globally.”
Kvaerner, which makes concrete structures for the offshore oil and gas industry, will design and build the project’s substructures.
Siemens Gamesa will supply turbines and fabrication will be carried out at several locations in Europe before they are transported to Wergeland Base in Gulen in western Norway for assembly.
The electrical cables will be delivered by JDR and fabricated in Hartlepool in the UK, while Subsea 7 Norway will be responsible for installation and connection to the Snorre and Gullfaks platforms.
Equinor will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the wind farm. Maintenance of the wind turbines will be carried out by Siemens Gamesa’s Norwegian service hub through a five-year contract as part of the turbine agreement.
The oil and gas platforms will be the first ever powered by a floating offshore wind farm. Emissions from the Gullfaks and Snorre fields will be reduced by more than 200,000 tonnes per year.
Hywind Tampen’s total investment will be close to NOK5bn.
All contracts are subject to final approval of the plan for development and operation by Norwegian authorities. The wind farm is scheduled to start production at the end of 2022.
A video from Kvaerner showing how the foundations will be produced can be watched below.