Hydro's Hywind project was this week awarded a concession from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate for placing a floating windmill in the area of sea offshore Karmøy. Hywind is a research project where Hydro wants to use floating constructions, as used in the oil industry, as the base for offshore windmills.
âIt is very gratifying that we have been granted a concession for Hywind. This gives us the opportunity to realise this exciting research project, and the area of sea off Karmøy is one of the locations being considered for placing a demonstration windmill,â says Senior Vice President Alexandra Bech Gjørv, responsible for Hydroâs efforts within New Energy.
âWe have great faith in the Hywind concept, and are working hard in order to have a demonstration windmill on the water as soon as possible. But some development work still remains, before we can decide to install this windmill.â
In the autumn of 2005, Hydro tested how the floating windmill will behave in different wind and wave conditions. The testing took place in Sintef Marintekâs sea laboratory. The results indicated that the concept can withstand extreme weather conditions, and Hydro therefore decided to proceed with the research project.