Equinor’s Bandibuli Floating Offshore Wind Project All Set for Auction in Korea

July 17, 2024, by Adnan Durakovic

Equinor has obtained approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Bandibuli floating offshore wind project off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea.

The EIA approval now allows the Bandibuli project to participate in the fixed-price contract auction for wind power projects.

”With the successful completion of the EIA, the Bandibuli project is now eligible to participate in the Korean fixed price contract auction for wind power projects later this year,” Torgeir Nakken, Project Director for the Bandibuli Floating Offshore Wind Project, said.

”It is an important milestone towards the industrialization of floating offshore wind. Equinor established the concept of floating offshore wind technology with the installation of Hywind Demo in 2009. Since then, Equinor has led the development of floating offshore wind technology, including the construction of Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating offshore wind farm in 2017 and the launch of Hywind Tampen, the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm in 2023. By leveraging this experience together with Korea’s world class supply chain we believe Bandibuli will be the next step in the development of floating offshore wind.”

Since the Bandibuli project obtained the electric business license in November 2021, it has conducted an EIA for about two years, starting in December 2021. This period is approximately twice the standard one-year survey period typically conduced in the industry. Monthly surveys and assessments were performed, covering studies of marine mammals, seabird, marine water quality, sediment quality, marine physics, air quality, land use, noise & vibration, terrain & geology, and socio-economic impact, Equinor said. The process involved consultations with local and international experts alongside reviews by specialized institutions, leading to the successful completion of the EIA.

Semi Kim, responsible for the Permitting of the Bandibuli project, said: ”Over the past two years, we have actively collaborated with many renowned local and international experts to gain a precise understanding of the marine environment, leveraging learnings from previous floating projects in the UK and Norway. The data collected and analyzed for the EIA could be the largest dataset on the marine ecosystem of the East Sea. We plan to continue these detailed studies during the construction and operational phases of the project.”

More than 200 experts, advanced technologies, and equipment were deployed to collect comprehensive data exceeding local standards, according to Equinor. For instance, to gain a detailed understanding of the ecological status of marine mammals in the East Sea, Bandibuli collaborated with local professors and experts, utilizing acoustic monitoring equipment to enhance the precision of the marine ecosystem survey.

Bjørn Inge Braathen, Country Managing Director of Equinor Korea, said: ”The Environmental Impact Assessment for the Bandibuli project was conducted through close cooperation with local fishermen and residents, adhering to both domestic EIA and international ESIA standards set by the International Finance Corporation. The participation of local fishermen’s vessels as support ships ensured the safe and successful completion of the EIA. We are grateful to the Ulsan local fishermen for their important support in this process.”

Equinor signed a memorandum of understanding with Ulsan City in May 2019 for the development of the up to 800 MW Firefly/Bandibuli floating wind farm offshore Ulsan, planned to be built 70 kilometres off the Ulsan coast, across two sites, each covering 75 square kilometres.

Equinor believes a low draft semi-submersible concept – the Wind Semi, is the most suitable floating wind technology choice for the company’s projects in Korea. The concept has been developed specifically for Korea and Equinor has worked with the Korean offshore industry since 2019 developing the Wind Semi.