- Mobile units can serve offshore oil platforms.
- Units will utilise Simens Gamesa units of 14MW/11MW capacities.
Norwegian start-up Odfjell Oceanwind, which focuses on developing floating wind turbines for harsh environments, plans to adapt its technology concept to the development of mobile wind turbines. The company recently signed an agreement with Siemens Gamesa and Siemens to utilise their technology to develop its Mobile Offshore Wind Units (MOWUs) concept.
Odfjell Oceanwind believes that its solution is ideal for small networks that have short-term needs. The mobile units are floating wind turbines that are moveable to different locations depending on the energy needs. The company says that the mobile units could provide energy to oil and gas fields that need energy for limited periods.
With the recent announcement of a new carbon emission reduction target of 50 per cent before 2030, the Norwegian Oil industry will need to utilise clean energy to operate its offshore fields. Cost expenses of carbon capture technology and the delayed timeline for the development of offshore wind farms mean that the industry will lack adequate clean energy to meet these targets.
Odfjell Oceanwind believes that its concept can lease mobile floating offshore wind turbines to oil rigs for limited periods.
Odfjell Oceanwind’s plans to utilise the Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD or SG 11.0-200 DD offshore wind turbines (with either 14 MW or 11 MW capacities) for its harsh environment semisubmersible MOWUs. The company plans to deploy the first MOWU units by 2024.