Statoil Confirm £180m Investment In Floating Wind Farm Off Peterhead Coast
Statoil has today confirmed its invesment of up to £180m in what will be the world's largest floating wind farm - off the coast of Peterhead.
The project, called 'Hywind', will see the development of six floating turbines, which will create enough energy to power 20,000 homes.
It will cover around four square kilometres, at a water depth of 95-120 metres.
It will consist of standard offshore turbines, but instead of being fixed, they will be anchored to the seabed. That allows for simple construction, and safer offshore operations.
The turbines will transport electricity via an export cable from the pilot park to the shore at Peterhead just over 15 miles (25km) away.
The project aims to begin onshore production in 2016, and carry out inshore assembly in 2017.
It has been widely welcomed by leaders.