Engineering giant TechnipFMC is teaming up with Norwegian start-up Magnora to develop floating wind projects, in a partnership that could also tap emerging technology to store green hydrogen on the seabed.
The agreement confirms TechnipFMC as the mystery partner first flagged up by Magnora in January, when Recharge reported plans for a new venture to target the floating wind sector.
TechnipFMC revealed the venture, which will operate under the name Magnora Offshore Wind, had already started work on an application for the first round of seabed leasing through the Scottish government’s ScotWind programme.
It will also participate in the first offshore wind application round in Norway, which opens later this year, and will consider entering new markets in the coming months.
“Magnora and TechnipFMC bring together decades of combined knowledge regarding the development of profitable offshore energy projects,” TechnipFMC subsea president Jonathan Landes said.
“This partnership reflects TechnipFMC’s ambition to capture a significant position in the renewable offshore energy market.”
TechnipFMC said it will bring to the newly established joint venture its “unique technologies” and experience delivering integrated engineering, procurement construction and installation projects.
Deep Purple
The venture will also look to utilise the novel Deep Purple initiative, in which TechnipFMC is a partner, to integrate wind and wave energy with offshore green hydrogen storage, said Magnora chairman Torstein Sanness.
Deep Purple, which will start building its first onshore pilot project later this year, aims to see turbine-level electrolysis feeding seabed hydrogen tanks where output from offshore wind farms can be stored.
Fuel cells would then re-electrify the hydrogen to provide a clean source of power for offshore oil and gas platforms, with shipping and seafood among other potential target markets for the electricity produced.
“In Magnora you find some of the world’s leading experts within wind development. Coupled with TechnipFMC’s project management competence and extensive service and technology portfolio, we believe we can provide a market-leading floating offshore wind offering,” Sanness said.
Magnora already holds a strategic position in the renewable energy sector, owning stakes in offshore wind, onshore wind, and solar development projects, while it also recently invested in Swedish PV cell technology company Evolar.
Magnora was formed in 2020 after oil rig designer Sevan Marine sold its business to contractor Sembcorp.
Sevan, which is known for its distinctive cylindrical oil & gas floater design, recently unveiled a novel concept for a moonpool foundation for use in “deeper, harsher, colder and windier sea areas”.
Recharge's sister publication Upstream contributed to this article
