[3][4] The 120 metres (390 ft) tall tower with a 2.3 MW Siemens turbine was towed from the Åmøy fjord and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) offshore into the North Sea in 220 metres (720 ft) deep water, off of Stavanger, Norway on 9 June 2009 for a two-year test run,[5] but remains working at the site[6][7] while surviving 40 m/s (89 mph) wind speed and 19 m waves.

[11] Manufacturing for the project, with a budgeted cost of NOK2 billion (£152m), started in 2016 in Spain, Norway and Scotland.

[23][24][25][26][27] By shutting down at the worst conditions, it survived Hurricane Ophelia, and then Storm Caroline with wind gusts at 160 km/h (99 mph) and waves of 8.2 metres.

[28] The subsequent 88 MW Hywind Tampen (with concrete floating foundations)[29] became operational at the Snorre and Gullfaks oil fields in Norway in 2023[30] at a cost of NOK 8 billion[31] or £600m (£6.8/MW).

In May 2024 all 5 turbines were to be towed back to Norway for several months of the heavy maintenance[32][33] of replacing the main bearings.