Hywind Scotland

{{Short description|Wind farm off Peterhead, Scotland}}

{{use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = Hywind Scotland

| name_official =

| image =

| image_caption =

| coordinates = {{Coord|57|28|59|N|01|21|00|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = Scotland, United Kingdom

| location = Scotland, Grampian

| status = Operational

| construction_began = 2016

| commissioned = October 2017

| decommissioned =

| cost = £264m

| owner = Equinor (75%)
Masdar (25%)

| operator = Hywind (Scotland) Limited

| wind_farm_type = Offshore

| ps_site_elevation =

| wind_site_usage =

| ps_site_area = {{convert|15|km2|abbr=on}}

| wind_offshore_depth = {{convert|95|-|120|m|abbr=on}}

| wind_offshore_distance = {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}

| wind_hub_height = {{convert|101|m|abbr=on}}

| wind_rotor_diameter = {{convert|154|m|abbr=on}}

| wind_rated_speed = {{convert|10.1|m/s|km/h|abbr=on}}

| ps_units_operational = 5 x 6 MW

| ps_units_manu_model = Siemens Wind Power SWT-6.0-154

| ps_units_uc =

| ps_units_planned =

| ps_units_cancelled =

| ps_units_decommissioned =

| ps_electrical_capacity = 30 MW

| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 54%

| ps_annual_generation =

| website =

| extra =

}}

{{Location mark

| type=thumb

| image = North Sea map-en.png

| width = 220

| label =

| caption = Buchan Deep

| x% = 20

| y% = 27

| mark = 175-free-google-maps-pointer.svg

| mark_width = 14

}}

Hywind Scotland is the world's first commercial wind farm using floating wind turbines, situated {{convert|18|mi|km|order=flip}} off Peterhead, Scotland.

The farm has five 6 MW Siemens direct-drive turbines on Hywind floating monopiles, with a total capacity of 30 MW.{{cite news|title=Hywind Scotland, World's First Floating Wind Farm, Performing Better Than Expected|url=https://cleantechnica.com/2018/02/16/hywind-scotland-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm-performing-better-expected/ |first = Joshua S.|last=Hill|date=2018-02-16| publisher = Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc. | work = CleanTechnica |access-date=7 March 2018}} It is operated by Hywind (Scotland) Limited, a joint venture of Equinor (75%) and Masdar (25%).{{cite news|title= Masdar joint venture Hywind Scotland surpasses targets | url= http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/ce242cd3-3eb0-4521-ab71-6ca7b11d603d.aspx | newspaper = The Gulf Today |access-date= 2018-03-18}}

Equinor (then: Statoil) launched the world's first operational deep-water floating large-capacity wind turbine in 2009, the 2.3 MW Hywind, which cost 400 million NOK (US$71 million, $31/W).{{cite web | url= http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/Hywind-Wind-Power-Water-Power.aspx | title= Water Power + Wind Power = Win! | publisher= Mother Earth News | access-date= 2010-05-03 | date=February–March 2010 | author=Ramsey Cox }}{{cite web |last1=Patel |first1=Sonal |title=Top Plants: Hywind Floating Wind Turbine, North Sea, Norway |url=https://www.powermag.com/top-plants-hywind-floating-wind-turbine-north-sea-norway/ |website=POWER Magazine |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220530083617/https://www.powermag.com/top-plants-hywind-floating-wind-turbine-north-sea-norway/ |archive-date=30 May 2022 |date=1 December 2009 |url-status=live}} The {{convert|120|m}} tall tower with a 2.3 MW Siemens turbine was towed from the Åmøy fjord and {{convert|10|km}} offshore into the North Sea in {{convert|220|m}} deep water, off of Stavanger, Norway on 9 June 2009 for a two-year test run,{{cite news | last = Patel | first = Prachi | title = Floating Wind Turbines to Be Tested | publisher = IEEE Spectrum | date = 2009-06-22 | url = http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/wind/floating-wind-turbines-to-be-tested | access-date = 2009-06-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090628200828/http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/wind/floating-wind-turbines-to-be-tested | archive-date = 2009-06-28 | url-status = dead }} but remains working at the site{{cite web |last1=Førde |first1=Thomas |title=Equinor selger verdens første flytende vindmølle til Unitech |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/equinor-selger-verdens-forste-flytende-vindmolle-til-unitech/455065 |website=Tu.no |publisher=Teknisk Ukeblad |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201125233620/https://www.tu.no/artikler/equinor-selger-verdens-forste-flytende-vindmolle-til-unitech/455065 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |language=no |date=8 January 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Solstad Offshore Installs Subsea Cable for TetraSpar Floater |url=https://www.oedigital.com/news/490673-solstad-offshore-installs-subsea-cable-for-tetraspar-floater |website=Offshore Engineer Magazine |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211202003534/https://www.oedigital.com/news/490673-solstad-offshore-installs-subsea-cable-for-tetraspar-floater |archive-date=2 December 2021 |language=en |date=16 September 2021 |url-status=live}} while surviving {{cvt|40| m/s|mph}} wind speed and 19 m waves.

In 2015, the company received permission to install the wind farm in Scotland, in an attempt at reducing the cost relative to the original Hywind,{{cite web |title=How Hywind works - equinor.com |url=https://www.equinor.com/en/what-we-do/floating-wind/how-hywind-works.html |website=www.equinor.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210414193929/https://www.equinor.com/en/what-we-do/floating-wind/how-hywind-works.html |archive-date=14 April 2021 |language=en |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Hywind Scotland remains the UK's best performing offshore wind farm - equinor.com |url=https://www.equinor.com/en/news/20210323-hywind-scotland-uk-best-performing-offshore-wind-farm.html |website=www.equinor.com |date=23 March 2021 |language=en}} in accordance with the Scottish Government's commitment for cost reduction.{{cite web |title=Chapter 6: Innovation and Cost Reduction |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/offshore-wind-policy-statement/pages/8/ |website=www.gov.scot |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211128023452/https://www.gov.scot/publications/offshore-wind-policy-statement/pages/8/ |archive-date=28 November 2021 |language=en |date=28 October 2020 |url-status=live}} Manufacturing for the project, with a budgeted cost of NOK2 billion (£152m), started in 2016 in Spain, Norway and Scotland. The turbines were assembled at Stord in Norway in summer 2017 using the Saipem 7000 floating crane, and the finished turbines were moved to near Peterhead.{{cite web|url=http://syslagronn.no/2017/02/17/syslagronn/na-starter-monteringen-av-statoils-flytende-vindmoller_191270/|title=Nå starter monteringen av Statoils flytende vindmøller|work=SYSLA|date=17 February 2017|access-date=20 February 2017|archive-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221110949/http://syslagronn.no/2017/02/17/syslagronn/na-starter-monteringen-av-statoils-flytende-vindmoller_191270/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url= https://www.tu.no/artikler/gigant-moduler-til-verdens-forste-flytende-vindpark-har-ankommet-stordbase/376691 |title=Gigant-moduler til verdens første flytende vindpark har ankommet Stordbase|work=Teknisk Ukeblad |date=16 February 2017 |access-date=20 February 2017}}{{cite web|title=Floating turbines deliver first electricity|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41652707 |website=BBC News|access-date=18 October 2017|date=18 October 2017}} Three suction anchors hold each turbine,{{cite web |author=Jannicke Nilsen |date=20 April 2016 |title=Sjekk dimensjonene: Disse kjettingene skal feste Statoils flytende vindmølle til havbunnen |url=http://www.tu.no/artikler/sjekk-dimensjonene-disse-kjettingene-skal-feste-statoils-flytende-vindmolle-til-havbunnen/346472 |access-date=20 April 2016 |work=Teknisk Ukeblad}}{{Cite web |title=Hywind Scotland |url=https://www.equinor.com/energy/hywind-scotland |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.equinor.com |language=en}} measuring 16 metres in height, 5 metres in diameter, and weighing 300 tonnes each.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiB6KyyoMuNAxVHQUEAHTamBEwQFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.equinor.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fstatoil%2Fdocuments%2Fnewsroom-additional-documents%2Fnews-attachments%2Fbrochure-hywind-a4.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1Re5o63f142RTMg79pZga2&opi=89978449 Hywind Scotland was commissioned in October 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/business/business-energy/statoil-pilot-floating-wind-farm-6749984 |title=Statoil to pilot floating wind farm scheme offshore Peterhead|first=Scott|last=McCulloch |website=Daily Record|date=2 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-34694463 |title=Floating wind farm to be installed off Peterhead|website=BBC News|date=2 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/hywind-scotland-pilot-park-united-kingdom-uk76.html |title=Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Offshore Wind Farm|website=4COffshore}}

While cost was reduced compared to the very expensive Hywind One at $31m/MW,{{cite web |last1=Vicente |first1=Rubén Durán |title=Pathway to cost reduction in floating wind technology |url=https://corewind.eu/wp-content/uploads/files/presentations/Pathway-to-cost-reduction-in-floating-wind-technology.pdf |publisher=corewind.eu |date=21 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Hywind Scotland is 'proving potential' of floating offshore wind |url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/company-news/floating-wind-potential-hywind-scotland/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210414083715/https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/company-news/floating-wind-potential-hywind-scotland/ |date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |url-status=live}} it still came with a final capital cost of £264m, or £8.8m/MW, approximately three times the capital cost of fixed offshore windfarms.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegwpf.com/hywind-low-economics/ |title=Hywind, low economics: The cost of floating offshore wind power |publisher=Global Warming Policy Foundation|website=GWPF}} Measured by unit cost, Hywind's levelized cost of electricity (LCoE) is then £180/MWh ($248/MWh), about three times the typical LCoE of a fixed offshore wind farm at £55/MWh ($75.7/MWh).{{cite web |title=UK/US study assesses wake steering for floating wind |url=https://www.offshore-mag.com/renewable-energy/article/14206447/ukus-study-assesses-wake-steering-for-floating-wind |website=www.offshore-mag.com |date=8 July 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210708205235/https://www.offshore-mag.com/renewable-energy/article/14206447/ukus-study-assesses-wake-steering-for-floating-wind |archive-date=8 July 2021 |url-status=live}} The high cost is partly compensated by £165.27/MWh from Renewable Obligation Certificates.{{cite web |last1=Moestue |first1=Herman |title=Floating wind set for deep cost cuts, high subsidies |url=https://www.montelnews.com/news/931793/floating-wind-set-for-deep-cost-cuts-high-subsidies |website=Montel |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220614230022/https://www.montelnews.com/news/931793/floating-wind-set-for-deep-cost-cuts-high-subsidies |archive-date=14 June 2022 |language=en |date=5 September 2018 |url-status=live}}

In its first 5 years of operation the facility has averaged a capacity factor of 54%, sometimes in 10 meter waves.{{cite web |title=Hywind Scotland reaches 5 years in operation |url=https://renews.biz/82790/hywind-scotland-reaches-5-years-in-operation/ |website=reNEWS - Renewable Energy News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229122137/https://renews.biz/82790/hywind-scotland-reaches-5-years-in-operation/ |archive-date=29 December 2022 |date=29 December 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Equinor and ORE Catapult collaborating to share Hywind Scotland operational data - equinor.com |url=https://www.equinor.com/en/news/2019-11-28-hywind-scotland-data.html |date=2019-11-28 |website=www.equinor.com |language=en}}{{cite web |title=UK offshore wind capacity factors |url=https://energynumbers.info/uk-offshore-wind-capacity-factors |website=energynumbers.info |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200418064523/https://energynumbers.info/uk-offshore-wind-capacity-factors |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |date=2020-01-31 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Hywind Scotland capacity factor |url=https://energynumbers.info/files/HywindScotland.png |date=2022-03-28}}{{cite web |title=Hywind Scotland floating wind farm boasts of 57.1% capacity factor |url=https://renewablesnow.com/news/hywind-scotland-floating-wind-farm-boasts-of-571-capacity-factor-735452/ |website=Renewablesnow.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210323214941/https://renewablesnow.com/news/hywind-scotland-floating-wind-farm-boasts-of-571-capacity-factor-735452/ |archive-date=23 March 2021 |language=en |date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live}} By shutting down at the worst conditions, it survived Hurricane Ophelia, and then Storm Caroline with wind gusts at {{cvt|160|km/h|mph}} and waves of 8.2 metres.{{cite web |title=Outstanding load factor performance from the world's first floating wind farm - Modern Power Systems |url=https://www.modernpowersystems.com/features/featureoutstanding-load-factor-performance-from-the-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm-6151857/ |website=www.modernpowersystems.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210421193447/https://www.modernpowersystems.com/features/featureoutstanding-load-factor-performance-from-the-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm-6151857/ |archive-date=21 April 2021 |date=16 May 2018 |url-status=live}}

The subsequent 88 MW Hywind Tampen (with concrete floating foundations){{cite web |title=First Turbine Installed at World's Largest Floating Offshore Wind Farm |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/06/07/first-turbine-installed-at-worlds-largest-floating-offshore-wind-farm/ |website=Offshore Wind |date=7 June 2022}} became operational at the Snorre and Gullfaks oil fields in Norway in 2023{{cite web |title=Equinor officially opens 88MW Hywind Tampen |url=https://renews.biz/87665/equinor-officially-opens-88mw-hywind-tampen/ |date=23 August 2023}} at a cost of NOK 8 billion{{cite web |title=Havvindanlegget Hywind Tampen sprakk med 44 prosent |url=https://www.europower.no/havvind/havvindanlegget-hywind-tampen-sprakk-med-44-prosent/2-1-1531203 |website=Europower {{!}} Siste nyheter fra fornybarbransjen |language=en |date=6 October 2023}} or £600m (£6.8/MW).

In May 2024 all 5 turbines were to be towed back to Norway for several months of the heavy maintenance{{cite web | url=https://www.energyvoice.com/renewables-energy-transition/wind/uk-wind/545550/equinor-to-return-hywind-turbines-to-norway-for-heavy-maintenance/ | title=Equinor to return Hywind turbines to Norway for 'heavy maintenance' | date=15 January 2024 }}https://marine.gov.scot/sites/default/files/environmental_report_redacted_7.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}} of replacing the main bearings. All turbines were operating again by October 2024.{{cite web |last1=Maritime |first1=Global |title=Heavy maintenance campaign completed on Hywind Scotland floating offshore wind farm |url=https://www.globalmaritime.com/news/heavy-maintenance-campaign-completed-on-hywind-scotland |website=www.globalmaritime.com |language=en |date=10 October 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Vanheeghe |first1=Thibault |title=Hywind Scotland's Heavy Maintenance: Tow-to-Port Approach |url=https://sea-impact.com/blog/2024/07/29/hywind-scotlands-heavy-maintenance-tow-to-port-approach/ |website=Sea Impact - Offshore Wind Market Intelligence |language=en |date=29 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Sarens Supporting Maintenance Campaign for Hywind Scotland, the World |url=https://www.sarens.com/about/news/sarens-supporting-maintenance-campaign-for-hywind-scotland-the-world-s-first-floating-wind-farm.htm |website=Sarens |language=es |date=14 October 2024}}