Norway’s METCentre to test new offshore turbines for floating wind expansion

According to Arvid Nesse, METCentre (Marine Energy Test Center) and Norwegian Offshore Wind’s head, the expansion of the plant, located around ten kilometers northwest of Stavanger will reportedly improve supplier involvement and boost supply chain development.

Nesse revealed that agreements have already been made with a number of businesses and emphasized that testing, installation, transport, planning, logistics, and environmental effects are all important components of the complicated supply chain process. 

Notably, when the METCentre opened in 2009, the first floating wind turbine in the world was installed and has since been put through testing. Additionally, a TetraSpar turbine created in Denmark was placed there, last year.

The most recent METCentre statement comes a little over a week after Jan Christian Vestre, Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry, led a trade delegation to the U.S. west coast, joined by Norwegian Offshore Wind representatives. The energy officials met at this site to discuss the potential for developing floating offshore wind farms in the deep Pacific waters that quickly recede from the coast. 

This productive visit is said to have opened the door for stronger cooperation between U.S. and Norwegian firms for the creation of an offshore wind supply chain on the west coast of the U.S.

Apparently, the goal is to assist Norwegian businesses to collaborate closely with U.S. wind developers under the Jones Act's framework.

Separately, an international shipbuilding company, Damen Shipyards has disclosed that it is creating a new class of larger anchor handling vessels that support floating offshore wind turbines, requiring anchors and chains of unprecedented sizes. It also asserted that it was well-positioned to create a new class of support vessels by working with suppliers and vessel operators.

According to Damen, the vessels needed for the management would need to be much bigger than anchor handling vessels of today and will also require to be highly efficient given the predicted demand for their services. However, the anchoring technology will largely remain the same, Damen added.

Source Credit:

https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/offshore-wind/expanded-test-centre-support-norways-floating-wind-ambitions