Enova has approved an application for funding of up to NOK 2.3 billion to support the Hywind Tampen project for developing the world’s first floating offshore wind farm supplying renewable power to offshore oil and gas installations.

Equinor and its partners are considering the possibility of supplying electricity from a floating offshore wind farm to the Gullfaks and Snorre fields. Today the licences received confirmation that the Hywind Tampen project has been granted funding of up to NOK 2.3 billion from Enova’s programme for full-scale innovative energy and climate measures.

“The support that the licences have received for the Hywind Tampen project demonstrates the will of Norwegian authorities to invest in and develop floating offshore wind farms and renewable energy supplies. With this support we have taken an important step forward in realising the project. Now it is up to the licences to further mature the project towards a final investment decision this autumn,” says Pål Eitrheim, executive vice president for New Energy Solutions in Equinor.

The Hywind Tampen offshore wind farm will consist of 11 wind turbines with a total capacity of 88 MW. The wind farm will be able to meet around 35% of the annual demand for electricity of the five platforms: Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B and C. In periods of strong wind, the percentage will be much higher.