Floating wind turbine launched

The world’s first floating wind turbine was towed out to sea this weekend. Statoil’s Alexandra Beck Gjorv told the BBC the technology, the Hywind, to be put off Norway’s coast – “should help move offshore wind farms out of sight”. And it could lead to offshore wind farms eventually being located many miles offshore, away from areas where they cause disruption, Ms Gjorv added. This would benefit military radar operations, the shipping industry, fisheries, bird life and tourism. “Taking wind turbines to sea presents new opportunities,” said Ms Gjorv, of Statoil’s new energy division.