Norway Proposing Wind Energy At Sea

The government of Norway is coming up with a proposal for developing wind energy farms based in the adjoining seas.

This is a new development in that the type of wind turbines now being developed for this project are capable of being used in deep waters, not just shallow near shore waters.

Although it is a leading exporter of oil, Norway's electricity comes from water power plants and through its grid connections to Scandinavian countries.

Reuters: Norway proposes sea-based wind power

Norway's state-controlled StatoilHydro is developing floating wind turbines -- they could be used in far deeper waters, perhaps to help power offshore oil and gas platforms or transmit power to land.

Norway is the world's number six oil exporter and western Europe's biggest gas exporter and needs to diversify to renewable energies to reach goals of fighting climate change.

CNET News from June 12, 2009: First floating wind turbine buoyed off Norway

The Hywind turbine will still have a ballast that is tied to the sea floor with cables. Wires will transfer the electricity produced to the mainland grid starting in July.

If successful, the project could open up offshore wind to countries that don't have relatively shallow waters of 100 feet to 165 feet off their coasts. The Hywind is suitable for depths of about 400 feet to more than 2,200 feet.

The turbine in Norway will be 7.4 miles offshore where the water is 721 feet deep. It will be utility-size turbine, with a hub height of about 100 feet, capable of generating 2.3 megawatts of electricity.