Equinor has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korean East-West Power (EWP) to cooperate on 3GW of offshore wind projects in South Korea, including developing the first commercial floating offshore wind farm in the country.
The collaboration will cover all offshore wind technologies, but “given the Korean coastal water depths, floating solutions are required to realise the South Korean government’s renewables ambitions,” Equinor explained.
According to a recent study, South Korea has a floating offshore wind pipeline of 7.1GW.
A number of leading international developers are eyeing offshore wind opportunities in South Korea, as the country aims to achieve its ambitious target of deploying 12GW by 2030.
In September, oil and gas major Shell joined a team of developers working on the 1300MW MunmuBaram MunmuBaram (1300MW) Offshoreoff Ulsan, South Korea, Asia-Pacific Click to see full details floating offshore wind farm off the city of Ulsan in the south-east of the country.
“South Korea aims to become one of the leading global markets for offshore wind in the next decade. Together with EWP, we are ready to contribute to the country’s plans, in the short and the long-term,” said Pål Eitrheim, executive vice president of renewables at Equinor.
State-owned power generation company EWP already owns a small portfolio of onshore wind farms, and is behind the planned 200MW Donghae 1 Donghae 1 (200MW) Offshoreoff Ulsan, South Korea, Asia-Pacific Click to see full details offshore wind project, which it is co-developing with Equinor and Korea National Oil Corporation.
Equinor is operator of the world’s first floating wind farm, 30MW Hywind Scotland Hywind Scotland (30MW) Offshoreoff Peterhead, Scotland, UK, Europe Click to see full details, and currently constructing the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm under development, 88MW Hywind Tampen Hywind Tampen (88MW) Offshorebetween the Gullfaks and Snorre fields, Norway, Europe Click to see full details, which are both in the North Sea.
Both these wind farms apply the Hywind technology, but Equinor stated that it will use the Wind Semi concept for its projects in South Korea.
The Wind Semi technology features a passive ballast system and a flat plate design that is free from bracings, heave plates and complicated nodes that are prone to fatigue cracking, making it suitable for modular construction and transport.
