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Offshore wind in Equinor

  • 36,000

    Hywind Scotland was the world’s first floating wind farm, powering 36,000 British homes

  • ~1,000,000

    We power more than one million European homes from offshore wind farms in the UK and Germany

  • 6 million homes

    Dogger Bank offshore wind farm will power 6 million British homes

What are Equinor’s key strengths?

  • Safety is our first priority
  • Experience with large complex projects and supplier relations
  • Financial strength and risk management
  • Leveraging local presence and corporate capabilities
  • Marine operations and maintenance
  • Technology and innovation

We intend to be a global offshore wind energy major. Here’s how.

Equinor is uniquely positioned to take a leading role in this important industry, with over five decades of ocean engineering and project management expertise behind us. We have in-depth knowledge of the energy markets, skilled personnel and a network of competent partners and suppliers to help us.

We plan to reach an installed net capacity of 12-16 GW by 2030. Our total renewables portfolio has the potential to produce 35-60 TWh in 2030 — and two thirds of this production is expected to come from offshore wind.

The next phase in the global transition to low carbon and renewable energy is happening now, with offshore wind at the centre of the revolution. For the energy transition to succeed, what’s needed now is scale: industrial and financial strength, and production capacity at a global level.

What is the future potential for offshore wind?

  • Offshore wind already has a strong foothold in Europe with close to 18.5 GW installed capacity, and global potential to reach more than 100 GW by 2030. Of this, floating offshore wind is estimated to constitute 10% of the market, potentially powering 12 million homes in 2030.
  • Through larger wind turbines, better design and streamlined operations, costs are decreasing while efficiency is increasing. We believe that offshore wind, over time, increasingly will become commercial without support schemes.
  • We believe floating offshore wind is the next wave in renewable energy and are excited about the possibilities that this new technology unfolds.
  • The International Energy Agency’s first Offshore Wind report, Outlook 2019, indicated a USD 1 trillion industry opportunity by 2040 and the chance to be one of the top power production technologies across the globe.

Floating is the future of offshore wind

Freeing wind power from the constraints of bottom-fixed designs opens a world of new markets and opportunities. Floating turbines can be placed almost anywhere where the water is deep enough, harnessing the best wind resources and reducing conflicts with other ocean users.

Floating wind activities
The sailors who invented Hywind

How Hywind was born

Two becalmed sailors started to doodle on the back of a napkin – and had a brainwave. Today, 20 years later, those strokes of genius have been transformed into a technology that is virtually synonymous with floating wind turbines: Hywind.

How Hywind was born: the back story

Offshore wind power in Norway

Norway’s coast has some of the best wind resources anywhere in the world. Winds are steady and strong, and the water depths off the coast are suitable for offshore wind turbines.

Here, large scale offshore wind production can create new industrial opportunities for Norway as an energy nation — and be an important contributor to achieving the energy transition.

Hywind Tampen. Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland, Equinor

Where in the world?
Our international portfolio of wind power

Equinor is building material offshore wind clusters in the UK, the US North East and in the Baltic Sea. Offshore wind is an important enabler in the world’s energy transition, and we will use our offshore experience and capabilities to develop the industry further.

Our experience of operating in the demanding conditions in the North Sea has given us insight and knowledge that is transferable to offshore wind projects.

Our ambition is to become an offshore wind major. Here is an overview of our current wind portfolio.

Offshore wind power in the UK

Equinor has long experience with wind power in the UK, having already built and put into operation Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon and Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating offshore wind farm. Now we’re partnering with SSE Renewables and Vårgrønn to deliver Dogger Bank – the world’s biggest offshore wind farm and an important milestone in delivering the UK’s decarbonisation goals.

Find out about our UK wind activities

The world’s largest wind farm has started production. Hopefully it’s the start of something even bigger.

We’re delighted to announce first power from Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Once complete, these 277 turbines in the North Sea will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, powering six million British homes.

News: Dogger Bank first power

Offshore wind power in the US

Equinor is pursuing offshore wind projects on the east and west coast of the United States and is one of the largest developers in the country’s growing offshore wind industry.

Find out our US wind activities

Offshore wind power in Norway

large scale offshore wind production can create new industrial opportunities for Norway as an energy nation — and be an important contributor to achieving the energy transition

We're developing offshore wind in Norway

Offshore wind power in Poland

For Poland, our ambition is to be a preferred partner contributing to the Polish energy transition and the Norwegian-Polish energy cooperation.

Equinor has interest in all three Baltyk offshore wind development projects (MFW Baltyk III, MFW Baltyk II and MFW Baltyk I). With interest in all three projects, we can build scale and value in what we see as an important energy region.

Other wind farm projects

In addition to our offshore wind presence in the UK, the US, Poland and Norway, we are present in the following markets:

Germany

We are a partner (25%) in the Arkona offshore windfarm in Germany, a 385 MW wind farm located in the Baltic Sea approximately 22 miles from the German coastline. The windfarm has a total of 60 turbines and delivers energy to ~400.000 households annually. The wind farm started production in 2019.

Japan

Japan has strong ambitions to grow within renewables. Equinor has therefore established a country office here to explore renewable and low carbon business opportunities and build our position within the Japanese offshore wind industry.

South Korea

Donghae Windfarm project
Together with our partners Korean National Oil Company and East West Power, we have the ambition to develop a 200 MW floating offshore wind farm in South Korea.

Firefly Wind Farm project
Equinor was awarded the Electricity Business Licence for the Firefly project from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) in 2021. The 750MW floating offshore wind project offshore Ulsan, South Korea is currently carrying out an environmental impact assessment, targeting commercial operations in the late 2020s – pending a final investment decision.

Vietnam

With its long coastline and favorable wind conditions, Vietnam has among the best wind resources in Asia and a strong desire to develop an offshore wind market. Equinor has entered an MoU with PetroVietnam for future offshore wind opportunities.

Equinor opened a representative office in Hanoi in May 2022.

Australia

Equinor opened a country office in Sydney in September 2023, and have joined forces with local companies Oceanex Energy and Nexsphere to pursue offshore wind opportunities in the country. Assessing renewable opportunities in Australia supports our strategy as a global offshore wind major to build scale in core areas and secure growth options in attractive new markets early.