Norwegian oil and gas major Equinor ASA and partners have taken a final investment decision (FID) on the 88-MW Hywind Tampen floating wind project in the North Sea.
The proposal calls for the construction of an 11-turbine floating wind farm that will supply power to the Gullfaks and Snorre oil and gas platforms in the northern North Sea. The power plant will be installed between the two fields, around 140 km (87 miles) away from the shore.
The total cost of the project is estimated at nearly NOK 5 billion (USD 549m/EUR 498.5m). Norwegian government enterprise Enova SF has committed to invest up to NOK 2.3 billion, while Norway’s NOx Fund will provide up to NOK 566 million.
The wind park is planned to be switched on in late 2022. Upon completion, the eleven 8-MW Hywind turbines will be able to generate some 384 GWh per year and will be able to meet around 35% of the annual power consumption of the Snorre A and B, and Gullfaks A, B and C platforms. As a result, the oil and gas fields’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be lowered by over 200,000 tonnes annually.
Equinor and its Snorre and Gullfaks partners will now file updated plans for the proposed facility’s development and operation to Norwegian regulators, the statement says.
