floating wind turbine from Statoilhydro
by rd @ 9:14 am post a comment »
Even the Kennedy’s might approve this innovative wind-power solution. (more)Norwegian energy company, Statoilhydro, has embarked on plans to implement what it calls “the first full scale offshore floating wind turbine.” The 2.3MW turbine, called Hywind, will be attached atop a Spar-buoy, or floating platform, that is tethered to the sea floor via 3 anchor moorings. The turbine will stand 65 meters high (roughly 213 feet) with a rotor diameter of 82.4 meters (270 feet). The Hywind can be moored far offshore where winds are strongest and objections by millionaire vacation homeowners and sun bathers should be few. The turbines can be anchored in sea depths ranging from 400 to 2,300 feet. The diameter of the platform at the ocean’s surface is a minuscule 20 feet. The company’s experience with offshore oil drilling installations will definitely come in handy when dealing with open ocean waves and high winds.
Statoilhydro is investing 400 million krone (I believe that’s roughly $79 million US) in the initial test installation with Siemens contracted to build the actual turbine. The test site is 10km off Norway’s western shore near Karmoy in Rogaland county. Initial tests have been conducted with a scale model pictured below.
all photo credits: statoilhydro
tag it | digg it | hugg it | email this | trackback | link to this post
