Equinor says contracts prove oil and gas supply chain can compete in renewable energy sector
Equinor has awarded contracts for the Hywind Tampen floating windfarm project to Kværner, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, JDR Cable System Ltd and Subsea 7.
Equinor’s executive vice president for technology, projects and drilling Anders Opedal said, “Signing these contracts is a key milestone in realising the Hywind Tampen project. Won in international competition, the contracts prove the oil and gas industry can compete for renewables projects. The contracts will generate considerable spin-offs in Norway.”
The substructures for the floaters will be designed and constructed by Kværner, a company with significant experience in concrete structures on the Norwegian continental shelf. The substructures will be constructed at Kværner’s yard at Stord and its site at Dommersnes in the Vindafjord in Norway.
The turbines will be supplied by Siemens Gamesa. Work on them will be carried out at several locations in Europe before they are transported to Wergeland Base in Gulen in western Norway for assembly.
Siemens Gamesa’s SG 8.0-167 DD turbines have been selected for the project, in part, the company claimed, because their lightweight nacelles make them particularly suited for floating foundations.
The cables will be delivered by JDR Cable Systems and fabricated in Hartlepool in the UK.
Subsea 7 Norway AS will be responsible for installing the cables and connection to the Snorre and Gullfaks platforms.
The deal is a particularly important one for Kværner, whose president and chief executive Karl-Petter Løken said, “Hywind Tampen paves the way for more floating windfarms in Norway and internationally. This contract is a very important step in Kvaerner’s strategy to grow its renewable energy business, in addition to our existing oil and gas business.”
Equinor, as operator, will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the windfarm, and the company has awarded a five-year maintenance contract to Siemens Gamesa’s Norwegian service organisation.
Once installed, the floating windfarm will provide power to oil and gas platforms in the Gullfaks and Snorre fields, reducing emissions from the platforms there significantly.
All of the contracts are subject to final approval of the plan for development and operation by the Norwegian authorities. The windfarm is scheduled to start production at the end of 2022.
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