In collaboration with the Norwegian company StatoilHydro, Siemens is developing the world’s first floating wind turbine.

In a departure from the method commonly used so far, instead of securing the windmill to the sea floor with a gigantic pylon, the power plant is to be stabilized by a special flotation buoy equipped with an anchor.

The innovation makes it possible for the first time to have wind parks on the high seas, in addition to ensuring more efficient exploitation of the wind power and not endangering coastal fauna. Plans call for a prototype to be put into operation off the coast of Norway in 2009.