Equinor has contracted engineering consultancy Wood to deliver modifications to two platforms in the Norwegian North Sea to connect electricity generated by the 88MW Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm.
The three-year deal will see Wood provide the topside modifications necessary for the Snorre A and Gullfaks A platforms to integrate with Hywind Tampen.
The work scope also includes equipment installation on the floating turbines and upgrades to the onshore control room in Bergen, which will remotely operate the wind farm.
Wood asset solutions business in Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia chief executive Dave Stewart said: “The Snorre A and Gullfaks A facilities will be the first oil and gas platforms to be powered by a floating offshore wind farm.
“We are proud to support Equinor on what is a flagship project for the North Sea’s energy transition journey.
“Wood is fully committed to applying our experience gained from decades of working in the region’s oil and gas industry to reduce the carbon intensity of offshore operations by modifying existing infrastructure.
“This contract maintains our position as a leading provider of modifications and engineering services in Norway, demonstrating our global track record not only in offshore operations, but in fixed and floating wind energy solutions.”
Hywind Tampen (illustrated) will replace energy generated by gas turbines with electricity from floating wind turbines located between the Snorre and Gullfaks fields, reducing emissions by more than 200,000 tonnes a year.
It will feature 11 8MW turbines and is due online in 2022.