Can floating turbines operated further out at sea harness more wind power and improve the renewable energy sector?

This was the idea being explored and piloted off the coast of Norway in 2009 and after 6 years of successful operations the company behind that pilot, Statoil, took the decision to invest in building the world’s first floating wind farm in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

They will be installing a 30 MW wind turbine farm on floating structures at Buchan Deep, 25km offshore of Peterhead. The turbines will harness the wind and provide energy to approximately 20,000 mainland homes. Supply of that electricity is anticipated to start towards the end of 2017.