Norwegian power giant Equinor has announced that the pioneering Hywind Scotland, the world's first floating offshore wind farm, is set to undergo three to four months of “heavy maintenance.” Operational data has revealed the need for crucial work on the five Siemens Gamesa turbines, marking a milestone in the floating farm's history since its inception in 2017.
Equinor plans to tow the turbines to Norway during the summer for the maintenance operations, emphasizing this as the first such operation for a floating farm. The decision to tow the turbines to shore is deemed the safest method, ensuring operations can be conducted in sheltered conditions. Norwegian contractor Wergeland Group has been selected for the maintenance work, with Equinor noting that Wergeland's proximity and offshore wind expertise make it the suitable choice.
Hywind Scotland, located off the coast of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, operates in water depths ranging from 95 to 120 meters. The five floating wind turbines, with a total capacity of 30 megawatts, have been generating electricity since 2017, powering the equivalent of 34,000 households in the UK. The turbines, each reaching a maximum height of 253 meters, utilize a spar-type substructure.
Equinor, in December 2022, celebrated Hywind Scotland's fifth anniversary, declaring it the world's best-performing offshore wind farm. The project achieved an impressive capacity factor of 54% over its five years of operation, setting the stage for larger floating wind farms currently in development.
