TotalEnergies has launched a floating offshore wind pilot project to supply renewable electricity to an offshore oil and gas platform in the North Sea.
The turbine, located 2 km to the west of Culzean platform, should be fully operational by the end of 2025, when it will supply about 20% of the field’s power needs.
It will be installed on a modular, light semisubmersible floater hull, designed by Ocergy for fast assembly and optimized costs. Archer Wind, which will deliver the foundation, is progressing detailed engineering and working with fabrication and assembly subcontractors.
The Culzean Wind Pilot, supplying electricity to supplement the existing power generation from gas turbines, should reduce overall emissions from production by 20%.
“This innovative pilot project aims at proving the concept of hybridization of power generation on an offshore facility,” said TotalEnergies CTO Marie-Noelle Semeria. “It also aims at qualifying a promising floater design for the future of floating offshore wind.”
The pilot project was selected in Crown Estate Scotland’s Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas (INTOG) leasing round, which is designed to support the use of offshore wind power at offshore oil and gas platforms in UK waters.
