Statoil, a Scotland-based energy company, has announced plans to build a floating wind farm, dubbing it the world’s first-ever plan of its kind. The project is called Hywind Scotland and is slated to be built in the coastal waters of Peterhead, Scotland, a busy fishing port located at the north-end of the country.

Statoil will install a 30-megawatt wind turbine farm on floating structures at Buchan Deep, 15 miles offshore, harnessing Scottish wind resources to provide renewable energy to the mainland, powering about 20,000 homes.

Construction is scheduled to start in late 2017.

Hywind Scotland will differ from conventional offshore wind farms by using turbines attached to the seabed by a three-point mooring spread and anchoring system. The turbines are interconnected by cables, one of which exports electricity from the pilot farm to the shore at Peterhead.

“Our objective with the Hywind pilot park is to demonstrate the feasibility of future commercial