Wedoany.com Report-Oct 09, Three companies have signed contracts with Norway’s Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre) to test new technology aimed at reducing the costs of floating offshore wind by demonstrating floaters equipped with 15+ MW turbines.

According to Norwegian Offshore Wind, this is the turbine size that will be relevant for future floating offshore wind farms.

The test area is located just a few kilometres away from the Utsira Nord zone, where Norway’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm will be located.

“This is very good news for innovation in floating offshore wind. The technologies now being planned at METCentre will be crucial when we get started with Utsira Nord”, said Arvid Nesse, head of METCentre and Norwegian Offshore Wind.

“If we are to get floating offshore wind started in Norway without further delays, it must begin at METCentre, so we can gain important knowledge from both the construction and operation processes, and thereby achieve the necessary cost reductions before Utsira Nord.”