Isleburn lands work for Statoil’s floating wind farm

Isleburn will provide suction anchors for Statoil's Hywind floating wind farm

Norwegian energy giant Statoil, which earlier this month secured consent for the Hywind development off the coast of Peterhead, said Isleburn – owned by Global Energy Group – will provide 15 suction anchors for the project. Fabrication of the anchors will take place at Isleburn’s facilities at the Nigg Energy Park on the Cromarty Firth.

The contract will provide work in the Inverness area and Aberdeen, and Statoil said its scheme could open up “attractive new markets for renewable energy production worldwide”.

Stephen Bull, the group’s senior vice-president for offshore wind, said: “Statoil is proud to develop the world’s first floating wind farm. We are pleased to develop this project in Scotland, with a huge wind resource and an experienced supply chain from oil and gas.

“We are very pleased with the contract awarded to Isleburn. The suction anchors represent important components in this innovative project. The Hywind pilot park confirms the UK and Scotland’s position at the forefront of developing offshore wind as a competitive new energy source.”

Statoil will install a 30 megawatt wind farm on floating structures at Buchan Deep, about 15 miles offshore Peterhead. The five-turbine facility will generate enough power for about 20,000 households and production is expected to start in late 2017.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing said: “Isleburn and Global Energy Group have used their experience from the oil and gas sector to be awarded this contract award. We continue to work closely with Statoil to ensure that other Scottish companies can also benefit from this project and to learn lessons for the future.

“We want to position Scotland as a world leader in this area as we look to utilise floating wind technology to unlock the deeper offshore sites.”

Statoil’s onshore operation and maintenance base for Hywind will be located in Peterhead, drawing on resources from its existing office in Aberdeen.