First Power

Hywind Scotland, developed by Equinor with partner Masdar, achieved first power in October 2017 when the floating wind farm started producing electricity. This milestone marked the transition of the 30 MW pilot park from construction and commissioning into operational status, confirming that the world's first floating offshore wind farm could successfully generate and export power. The project, located offshore Peterhead, consists of five turbines on spar-type substructures in water depths of 95–120 metres and is designed to power around 35,000 UK homes via an export cable of approximately 30 kilometres. Equinor and Masdar invested NOK 2 billion to realise Hywind Scotland, achieving a 60–70% cost reduction compared with the earlier Hywind Demo project in Norway. Since production began in October 2017, Hywind Scotland has consistently delivered the highest average capacity factor of all UK offshore wind farms each year, demonstrating both strong resource conditions and the technical robustness of its floating design. The project uses a standard offshore wind turbine mounted on a spar foundation with a simple three-line mooring system and patented motion control that reduces fatigue and increases production. The successful first power in October 2017 has allowed Equinor to showcase how decades of offshore experience from oil production can be transferred into floating wind. The project also underpins Equinor's commitment to creating lasting value for local communities through employment, local procurement, and infrastructure, while serving as a reference for larger future floating wind developments.