Demonstrator project
As per the press release, the world’s first demonstrator for the Windcatcher will be located northwest of Bergen, outside the municipality of Øygarden and north of Vestavind in Norway. Financial support for the project comes from Enova, the country’s technology incubator, supported by the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
The Demonstrator will use 40 one-megawatt (MW) turbines to showcase the concept’s performance and cost-effectiveness. With a 40 MW installed capacity, the demonstrator will generate 99 GWh of energy annually.
While Norway currently has expertise in oil and gas, the government is keen to build technology and products for the renewable energy sector. Enova’s call for innovative designs for offshore wind projects received nine applications, from which WCS was selected.