Equinor has partnered with engineering firm Moss Maritime for the development of a new offshore solar power plant off the island of Frøya in Norway's Trøndelag county.
Construction of the facility is expected to commence in the late summer of 2021. Equinor claims that it will become the world's first pilot plant for floating solar power in rough waters.
The 80- by 80-metre plant will tower less than three metres over the sea surface. Testing will be carried out over a minimum period of one year.
Equinor said the purpose of the pilot plant is not primarily to see how much energy it can produce, but how the weather conditions affect the plant. The Norwegian coast and continental shelf are suitable when it comes to oil, gas and wind, but not as ideal when it comes to solar energy, thus making Frøya a viable test environment.
