Statoil, developer of the world’s first full-scale floating wind turbine, is reporting good performance on its 2.3-MW test project near the North Sea. The Norwegian company is targeting the Gulf of Maine as a site for a 12-MW floating-turbine test wind farm, despite the tough U.S. environment for wind-energy development. If constructed, this would be the first floating wind turbine farm in the U.S.
“We chose the coast of Maine because of good wind conditions, deep waters and proximity to electricity load centers—good options for onshore infrastructure connections” with the New England electrical grid, says Morton Eek, spokesman for Statoil’s renewable-energy division.