Since the early seventies, the Odfjell brand has been synonymous with a strong vision and flair for opportunities offshore. In 1969, Abraham Odfjell stated that he could envision “rigs like beads on a string along the Norwegian coast.” Today we can clearly see the future, and the future is floating wind power. 

Odfjell Oceanwind has been awarded a pre-project grant from Enova, Norway’s fund for climate- and energy technologies, for maturing its first commercial contracts for Mobile Offshore Wind Units (MOWUs) and WindGrid for electrification of oil and gas installations.

More good news! DNV has completed an independent verification review of Odfjell Oceanwind’s WindGrid hybrid.

The mobile offshore wind pioneer Odfjell Oceanwind has entered into a Memorandum of Understandng (MoU) with Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Energy, where Odfjell Oceanwind intends to use their technologies for their Mobile Offshore Wind Units (MOWUs). The intention of the MoU is for the three parties to jointly develop MOWUs with Odfjell Oceanwind’s WindGrid™ hybrid for micro-grids, where emissions could be reduced by up to 70% compared to power generation from gas turbines or diesel engines. The WindGrid™ is intended to utilize Siemens Energy’s BlueVault™ energy storage solution which includes batteries, AC PowerGrids, transformers, switchboards and power control system. Odfjell Oceanwind’s harsh environment semisubmersible MOWUs are intended to use Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD or SG 11.0-200 DD offshore wind turbines, featuring either 14 MW or 11 MW capacities, respectively. The MoU is of non-binding nature.

Mobile Offshore Wind Units are floating wind turbines that can move from location to location as and when there is a need for renewable power. They are ideally suited to provide power to oil and gas installations that require power for a limited period, typically until the production closes on that particular field. The Norwegian oil and gas industry has high ambitions and targets a cut in carbon emissions by 50% before 2030. There are principally four ways of delivering on the ambition: