Page 14 - AsiaElec Week 46 2021

AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec

Equinor seals 3-GW offshore

deal with South Korea’s EWP

SOUTH KOREA NORWAY’S Equinor has signed an agreement Equinor is operator of the world’s first float-
with Korean East-West Power (EWP) to co-op- ing wind farm, Hywind Scotland (30 MW) and
erate on offshore wind projects in South Korea. is currently constructing the world’s largest
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) floating offshore wind farm under develop-
with state-owned EWP covers wind turbine pro- ment, Hywind Tampen (88 MW), both in the
jects with a capacity of 3 GW, the Norwegian oil, North Sea. While both these wind farms apply
gas and renewable energy producer said. the Hywind technology, Equinor will use the
The partnership is intended to support South Wind Semi for its projects in South Korea, as this
Korea’s energy transition efforts and offshore technology has been developed specifically for
wind industry. Korean waters and local conditions.
South Korea’s government has set a target of The deal follows the country’s decision to
installing 60 GW of renewable capacity by 2034. end coal-fired power generation by 2050. South
This will involve generating around 12 GW from Korean President Moon Jae-in said at the G20
offshore wind by 2030. meeting on October 31 that the target date was
Equinor Renewables executive vice-president in line with South Korea’s already declared inten-
Pål Eitrheim said: “South Korea aims to become tion of reaching net zero by 2050.
one of the leading global markets for offshore “In line with the carbon neutrality target, the
wind in the next decade. Republic of Korea will complete the phase-out of
“Together with EWP, we are ready to contrib- all coal-fired power generation by 2050,” Moon
ute to the country’s plans in the short and long said at the G20.
term. Moon said South Korea would also help
“We want to develop the first commercial developing nations achieve carbon neutrality by
floating offshore wind farm in South Korea. providing funding and technologies.
We have worked with the Korean supply chain In October, the South Korea government
for many years and know its qualities and said it would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
capabilities. emissions by 40% of 2018 levels by 2030, sharply
“We see a big potential to leverage our expe- raising its previous goal as part of efforts to curb
rience in building a new industry together with the pace of climate change. The country also con-
Korea’s world-class supply chain.” firmed that it would achieve carbon neutrality
Given South Korea’s deep coastal waters, the by 2050 while also pursuing sustainable growth.
projects will require floating turbines, Equinor At COP26, South Korea also joined the global
said, a relatively new technology compared to pact to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030.™
the more widely used bottom-fixed versions.

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 46 17•November•2021