18 October 2017

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind farm. The 30MW wind farm, operated by Statoil in partnership with Masdar, is located 25 kilometers offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and will power approximately 20.000 households.

FM @NicolaSturgeon and @PaulWheelhouse board the flight to view Hywind Scotland, the first floating wind park @Statoil pic.twitter.com/0WBdEsaW4g

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) October 18, 2017

The world's first floating wind farm, @Statoil #Hywind project, will be opened by First Minister @NicolaSturgeon today, and we'll be there. pic.twitter.com/GC9oT9MmPf

— Scottish Renewables (@ScotRenew) October 18, 2017

Hywind can be used for water depths to up to 800 meters, thus opening areas that so far have been inaccessible for offshore wind. The learnings from Hywind Scotland will pave the way for new global market opportunities for floating offshore wind energy. Through its support to Hywind Scotland, the Scottish Government is now at the forefront of the development of this exciting new technology.

Innovation + O&G expertise + #lowcarbon = world's 1st floating wind farm! 🎉 #Hywind Scotland producing 👉 https://t.co/WjfxRdbzE8 @Masdar pic.twitter.com/OsKALLNV8F

— Statoil (@Statoil) October 18, 2017

During the opening event in Aberdeen today, the First Minister said:

I am delighted to open Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind park. Hywind will help us meet our ambitious climate change targets.

This marks an exciting development for renewable energy in Scotland. Our support for floating offshore wind is testament to this government’s commitment to the development of this technology.

Coupled with Statoil’s Battery Storage Project, Batwind, this project positions Scotland as a world centre for energy innovation.

Hywind Scoland is adding to Statoil’s strong UK presence. In Aberdeen over 1500 are employed in the final phase of commissioning the Mariner oil field, one of the largest upstream UKCS developments in the last ten years, due to come onstream in 2018.

So here it is – Hywind, the world’s first offshore floating windfarm. Each turbine more than 3 times height of Statue of Liberty. pic.twitter.com/Uira270CKw

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 18, 2017

Absolute honour to accompany FM @NicolaSturgeon & @Statoil & @Masdar to see World's 1st offshore floating windfarm 'Hywind' nr Peterhead👏 pic.twitter.com/i05w4UZiQO

— Paul Wheelhouse MSP (@PaulWheelhouse) October 18, 2017

FM @NicolaSturgeon views Hywind Scotland – worlds first floating wind farm – in the north sea @Statoil pic.twitter.com/EO8pVSLpmM

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) October 18, 2017

Hywind Scotland will produce clean energy to power 20,000 homes @Statoil pic.twitter.com/zr2HR54zpR

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) October 18, 2017