Kjell-Børge Freiberg, Norway’s new minister of petroleum and energy, signaled on Tuesday that the country’s famous coasts could see more commercial offshore wind development than previously indicated.

Terje Søviknes, Freiberg’s predecessor as head of Norway’s powerful energy ministry, last month announced the government would this autumn open two new areas for offshore wind on Norwegian’s continental shelf, expected to be linked to the oil & gas sector.

“I don’t expect to see a lot offshore windmills in Norway,” Søviknes said at the time, adding that the new offshore wind zones would likely be used for a “demonstration and pilot facility”.

However, Freiburg struck a more ambitious tone as he introduced himself to the European wind industry at the WindEurope conference. “These [new] areas might be relevant for large commercial projects in future.”

Following Freiberg's remarks, the Norwegian energy ministry contacted Recharge to underline that the country's policy regarding offshore wind is unchanged at this stage.

Some in the Norwegian offshore energy sector have warned that despite the country’s world-class oil & gas sector, it is falling behind in offshore wind development, leaving its companies struggling to catch up.

But Freiberg pointed to Equinor’s 30MW Hywind Scotland, completed last year as the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, as an example of Norway’s offshore expertise being put to use in renewables.

“I’m convinced that Norwegian firms will have a lot to offer in the offshore wind sector,” he said. The Norwegian government “sees a great potential in floating offshore wind and we continue to follow developments closely”.

Wind

Minister: Norway looking at more offshore wind