Electrification
Norway
The Hywind Tampen project is the first floating offshore wind farm in the world to power a producing oil and gas installation. Owned by the Gullfaks and Snorre partners, the Hywind Tampen wind farm is expected to meet about 35% of the electricity demand of the two oil and gas fields. This is projected to cut CO2 emissions from the fields by about 200,000 tons per year.
On August 23, 2023, Norwegian energy firm Equinor and its partners inaugurated Hywind Tampen, which is also the world's largest floating offshore wind farm. The Hywind Tampen wind farm, where Equinor is partnering with other oil firms including OMV, Vaar Energi, and a majority-owned by ENI, started producing power in November of 2022 with full output reached in August of 2023.
INTOG
Innovation
and Targ eted Oil and Gas (INTOG) aims to help decarbonize the North Sea oil and
gas sector by supporting the building of floating offshore wind farm projects connected to oil
and gas infrastructure (TOG) providing electricity and reducing the carbon
emissions associated with oil and gas production. In March of 2023, the 5.5GW INTOG leasing round provided Scotland with a floating offshore wind
pipeline of 23.3 GW.
INTOG contract awards were determined largely on an open-auction basis and were judged by a combination of price and quality. Option agreements are expected to be offered in 2024. To secure an option agreement, developers must provide a Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS). Information from these Statements will then be published.
The magnitude of this offshore wind energy project pipeline underscores that major industry players believe floating offshore wind will become cost-effective in
areas unsuited for fixed offshore wind technology.
