Statoil Representatives attended the public reception on Tuesday, June 26, in Rockland, Maine, where Hywind Maine Pilot Offshore Wind Project was introduced. According to Freepressonline.com, the project includes the deployment of four floating wind turbines 12 miles southeast of Boothbay Harbor.
The Gulf of Maine has been chosen due to its favorable water depths, wind conditions and proximity to the population centers in the Northeast. Each of the planned turbines will have a 250-foot draft and will be anchored to the sea floor with three anchor lines in water depths of 460 to 520 feet.
The stem of the wind turbine will reach 230 feet above the water surface; the turbine blades will each be approximately 165 feet long. The turbines will each have a 3-megawatt capacity.
The turbines are supposed to be deployed in 2016.
Hywind floating wind turbine provided Statoil with essential information to make the turbines more powerful and cheaper with a slimmer design.
Statoil has been branching out into renewable energy for several years and found perspective in offshore wind power.
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Offshore WIND staff, July 2, 2012; Image: Statoil