The turbine is an offshore turbine, but initially SWAY wants to test the turbine onshore for a period of two to five years. The turbine will be removed when the testing is completed. SWAY is evaluating other locations for testing, but for now the primary focus is on Øygarden.
By co-locating the test turbine with Naturgassparken industrial area, SWAY can benefit from the fact that the area is already restricted to industrial use. Impact assessments have also been established in the area, in connection with the Kollsnes Wind Park. The test position is at the south side of Ljøsøyna, which is located in the north eastern corner of Naturgassparken industrial area. The location is as far away as possible from the existing settlement at Oøy and Blomøy.
SWAY’s CEO, Eystein Borgen, reveals that the new turbine is the result of a considerable amount of research and development: ”We have worked on this turbine since 2004, and a significant amount of testing is still required before commercialization”. The turbine, which is developed by SWAY, comes in addition to the turbine from AREVA Multibrid and will provide options for the buyers of SWAY’s floating wind turbine systems in the future. “Initially we will only offer our floating wind turbine solution with AREVA Multibrid’s turbine, in line with the announced partnership with the French energy giant. Later we will also be able to offer SWAY’s own 10MW turbine. The test turbine in Øygarden will be an important step in offering flexibility to SWAY’s customers in the future, through multiple alternative turbine solutions”.
