It took years for the Norwegian company Statoil to design, build, and finally move the five towers. Each stands 500 feet above the water, with another 250 feet below. It's an expensive project, made possible by the participation of Scotland's government as part of the U.K.'s renewable energy goals. But the payoff could be big, too. A floating wind farm can operate in much deeper water than traditional wind farms. Since a great deal of the Earth's available wind power is far out at sea, being able to locate far from shore opens up a valuable—and clean—energy source.
