For its third consecutive year, Hywind Scotland reaches the highest average capacity factor for any wind farm in the UK. With an average capacity factor of 57.1% in the twelve months to March 2021, the floating offshore wind farm set a new record in the UK.During its first two years of operation, the wind farm achieved an average capacity factor of 54%. That compares to an offshore wind average in the U.K. of around 40%.
The Equinor-operated wind farm proves the potential for floating offshore wind, paving the way for the UK’s announcement of 1GW of floating offshore wind to be developed in the UK by 2030. In 2009, Equinor installed its first floating offshore wind turbine, and Hywind Scotland followed in 2017. It is now developing Hywind Tampen, situated off the coast of Norway. This project, currently in construction, will be the first project to use wind energy to power offshore oil and gas production.