Barry MacLeod, Chief Executive Officer of Flotation Energy
I’m often asked to describe Green Volt’s potential to people unfamiliar with the project, and honestly? The scale of the project is hard to put into words. Picture wind turbines as tall as the Eiffel Tower, floating in an area the size of Edinburgh in the middle of the North Sea. That’s the staggering scale of Green Volt.
To deliver a project of this magnitude, you need the best people in the industry, all pulling in the same direction. That’s exactly why we formed a joint venture between Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn – to bring together decades of energy expertise from both oil and gas and renewables, in pursuit of a shared goal.
Fulfilling floating wind’s potential
Since Flotation Energy’s formation back in 2018, we’ve been laser-focused on unlocking the immense potential of floating offshore wind.
Industry experts are clear that approximately 80% of the world’s offshore wind resource potential lies in waters deeper than 60 metres. This means we can look ahead to many gigawatts of floating offshore wind developments in the years ahead.
With projects across the UK, Ireland and Asia-Pacific, Flotation Energy is a global developer headquartered in Edinburgh. Part of the TEPCO group, we specialise in floating projects that unlock deep-water potential needed to meet net zero targets.
Vårgrønn’s history is just as impressive. Established in 2020, Vårgrønn has developed into a leading offshore wind developer and, as of October 2022, became Norway’s largest offshore wind company, with an expanding portfolio across Northern Europe.
The team’s deep understanding of North Sea operating conditions, coupled with world-class Norwegian offshore engineering has been critical for both Green Volt and the advancement of Cenos – our second commercial-scale floating offshore wind project, also planned for the North Sea.
Partnership and collaboration at the core of the project
The partnership works because of our shared goals and historic expertise. The UK and Norway share decades of North Sea experience, engineering excellence and have established robust offshore supply chains. Together, we have everything we need to tackle the complex engineering, regulatory and commercial challenges thrown up by Green Volt. But more than that, we share the same DNA – driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to pushing the energy transition forward. It’s a model that perfectly exemplifies the cross-company and cross-border collaboration essential for tackling global energy challenges.
Green Volt represents more than just a single project. By combining the capabilities, knowledge and networks of both Vårgrønn and Flotation Energy, we’re building the foundations for a successful, long-term floating offshore wind industry in the UK and beyond.
