AboutMETCentre
The future of floating wind starts here
The Marine Energy Test Centre - METCentre - provides the opportunity to test and validate floater technologies in full scale.
Founded in 2009, METCentre is recognised as a world-leading North Sea test center for floating offshore renewable energy and new technology. The test center offers infrastructure and services required for testing technologies both in shallow and deep waters (over 200 meters) with varying testing conditions.
Experience built by installations offshore
Hosting projects in a harsh offshore environment gives important experience to technology development projects. Derisking all phases from planning, production, installation and operations.
Our history
Although floating offshore wind is a relatively new field, METCentre already has a proud history.
In 2009, Equinor installed the world’s first full-scale floating wind turbine — Hywind Demo — at METCentre’s main test site. Since then, we have hosted a range of innovative projects, including Google Makani (2019) and the TetraSpar Demonstrator (2021). Hywind Demo is now operated as test infrastructure under the name Zefyros, and both Zefyros and TetraSpar remain in active operation today.
METCentre’s offshore test area, located 10 km from shore near Norway’s Utsira Nord field, is more than just a place to install turbines and floater pilots — it's a hub for technology development, third party test projects, and research. We facilitate the collection of valuable data and operational insights that support the national and global advancement of floating offshore wind.
Our recently expanded concession allows for up to six floating wind units, with four new test slots available. Combined with easy access to ports, shipyards, and deepwater quays, METCentre has become an essential site for companies looking to validate and improve their technologies in real-world conditions.
