Norway plans to open one or two sites to host floating offshore wind demonstration projects “as soon as possible”, said the country’s energy minister Terje Søviknes.

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) will assess five potential areas for floating offshore development, said Søviknes.

As part of a wider wind strategy launched by Norway, the floating developments are “not primarily geared towards power supply, but will help Norwegian industry and Norwegian expertise communities seize the industrial capabilities associated with the development of wind power at sea,” said an Energy Ministry statement.

But it added that the government “sees no reason to propose new aid schemes” for any developments, as state-owned low carbon technology company Enova is already able to support floating wind projects.

Two-bladed wind turbine pioneer Seawind hopes to install a first full-scale prototype off western Norway next year, partly with the help of a loan from Enova.

Norwegian state-controlled oil giant Statoil has emerged as one of the pioneers of the floating wind power sector with its Hywind system.

But although an initial Hywind 1 floating turbine was sited off Norway, Statoil’s flagship 30MW Hywind Scotland array – the world’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm – began operations off the Scottish coast earlier this year, with the devolved government there eager to support floating tehcnnologies.

France has also taken a leading role in floating offshore, with a series of demonstration projects of its own currently in the works.

Søviknes said: "Norway has significant maritime and petroleum-related expertise that can play a role in the development of ... wind power. In the long term, such technology will globally contribute a lot of renewable energy, while providing opportunities for increased employment and industrial development for Norwegian players.”

The wider issue of offshore wind development is a conundrum for Norway, which enjoys plentiful renewable power supplies form its vast hydro fleet.

Statoil CEO Eldar Saetre told Recharge last month that the company – which is also active in fixed-bottom offshore wind – currently had no specific plans off its own coastline, but added “if opportunities arise it is definitely something we would consider”.

In a statement to Recharge following the latest announcement, Jon Dugstad, director of wind and solar at business development body Norwegian Energy Partners, said: “The opening up of sites is a good sign for the further development of the Norwegian offshore wind supply chain and will create a playground of creativity increasing the speed of innovation in floating offshore wind.

“It is playing to our belief of lower LCOE in offshore wind based on the utilisation of further expertise from the maritime and offshore O&G sector of Norway. We are looking forward to hear further details of possible support from the government.”

Wind

Norway to open up sites for floating offshore wind