The StatoilHydro demonstration project Hywind is based on wind turbines with a height of around 80 metres above sea-level and a blade diameter of around 90 metres.

Some advantages would be: reduced visual impact, mobility (not stationary), increased power production, ability to work in deeper waters

Hywind in brief

• Turbine capacity: 2.3 MW
• Weight of turbine: 138 tonnes
• Turbine height: 65 m
• Rotor diameter: 82.4 m
• Floatation element’s draught below sea surface: 100 m
• Total weight: 5300 tonnes
• Diameter at sea surface: 6 m
• Diameter of floatation element: 8.3 m
• Sea depth range: 120 – 700 metres
• No. of anchor moorings: 3

• Eitzen Maritime Services to acquire Dubai-based Seven Seas for $115 million.

Eitzen Maritime Services said it has agreed to acquire Dubai-based ship supply firm Seven Seas for $115 million.

• Australia Gets 2.5 Million Square Kilometers of New Offshore Rights.

Anyone still wondering what all the fuss is surrounding Canada’s bid to gain new seabed territory in the Arctic Ocean should look to Australia, where the country’s government is predicting a possible oil and gas “bonanza” after being granted a 2.5-million-square-kilometre expansion of its offshore jurisdiction.

• Salvage Operations Commence after Barge Accident in Kentucky.

The Coast Guard says salvage operations are to start after two barges carrying iron ore sank in the Ohio River near downtown Louisville, Ky.

• StatoilHydro to build first full scale offshore floating wind turbine.

StatoilHydro has decided to build the world’s first full scale floating wind turbine, Hywind, and test it over a two-year period offshore Karmøy. The The company is investing approximately 400 million NOK. Planned startup is autumn 2009.

• Huge boost for offshore wind power.

The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) has announced plans for a huge increase in offshore wind power. Up to 7,000 new turbines could be built by 2020, producing up to 25 gigawatts of electricity.

© Chad Teer

© Bob Jagendorf - Bob’s website