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Released May 24, 2022 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Europe's leading oil and gas producer, Norway, has announced an ambitious plan to install 3,000 gigawatts (GW) of offshore windfarms by 2040.
The plan, revealed by the center-left government, would see the same amount of clean energy added as the total amount of electricity currently produced in Norway, allowing it to become a leading exporter of renewable power in Europe. Norway already supplies more than 20% of Europe's oil and gas--a figure that is set to increase as Europe begins efforts to cut out Russian imports--but it has virtually no offshore wind power, despite its vast sea areas. Industrial Info is tracking its first offshore project, the 88-megawatt (MW) Hywind Tampen floating offshore project, which will be the largest floating offshore wind installation of its kind globally. Commissioning is expected towards the end of the year when it will supply renewable power for a number of oil and gas installations, including the Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B and C platforms. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for the report.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, said: "Today, we are launching a major offshore wind initiative. Our target is to open up areas for offshore wind power production that will generate 30,000-MW of power in Norway by 2040. This is nearly equivalent to the amount of electricity we currently produce in Norway. Over the next 20 years, we will go from having two offshore wind turbines in operation to having around 1,500 turbines."
In February the government pledged to hold the country's first offshore wind auction in the second half of 2022, with a total capacity of 1.5 GW. Further offshore wind auctions will follow, but the government is under pressure from the energy sector to speed up the auctions and increase the sea areas available for development to ensure that Norway can become a leading clean energy exporter. Two North Sea areas have been chosen--Utsira North and Southern North Sea II--for the development of up to 4.5 GW of bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind.
The plan was welcomed by the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, but it called for a faster rollout.
"It is good that the government is now clarifying Norway's offshore wind ambitions," said Hildegunn T. Blindheim, chief executive officer of Norwegian Oil and Gas. "The industry has been calling for this for a long time. It will lay the foundation for an industrial offshore wind investment, and provide predictability for offshore wind developers and suppliers who will invest in offshore wind on the Norwegian shelf. If the government's level of ambition is to be realized, they must start by opening new areas for offshore wind from this parliamentary term. Several countries see the same opportunities for developing an offshore wind industry and supplier industry, and several have already established supply chains and national initiatives with specific goals of developing their own industry and replacing fossil power production. The government must ensure progress in the licensing processes for Utsira North and Southern North Sea II, so that we both position ourselves in the race for the offshore wind markets."
Last month, Norway's leading oil and gas company Equinor (NYSE:EQNR)--which is two-thirds owned by the State--unveiled its first Energy Transition plan that will see US$23 billion of its gross capital expenditure invested in renewables over the next five years. It is a key partner in the Hywind Tampen project as well as a major investor in much larger offshore wind projects throughout Europe. For additional information, see April 21, 2022, article--Norway's Equinor Details First Energy Transition Plan.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the world's leading provider of market intelligence across the upstream, midstream and downstream energy markets and all other major industrial markets. IIR's Global Market Intelligence Platform (GMI) supports our end-users across their core businesses, and helps them connect trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated project opportunities. Follow IIR on: LinkedIn.
The plan, revealed by the center-left government, would see the same amount of clean energy added as the total amount of electricity currently produced in Norway, allowing it to become a leading exporter of renewable power in Europe. Norway already supplies more than 20% of Europe's oil and gas--a figure that is set to increase as Europe begins efforts to cut out Russian imports--but it has virtually no offshore wind power, despite its vast sea areas. Industrial Info is tracking its first offshore project, the 88-megawatt (MW) Hywind Tampen floating offshore project, which will be the largest floating offshore wind installation of its kind globally. Commissioning is expected towards the end of the year when it will supply renewable power for a number of oil and gas installations, including the Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B and C platforms. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for the report.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, said: "Today, we are launching a major offshore wind initiative. Our target is to open up areas for offshore wind power production that will generate 30,000-MW of power in Norway by 2040. This is nearly equivalent to the amount of electricity we currently produce in Norway. Over the next 20 years, we will go from having two offshore wind turbines in operation to having around 1,500 turbines."
In February the government pledged to hold the country's first offshore wind auction in the second half of 2022, with a total capacity of 1.5 GW. Further offshore wind auctions will follow, but the government is under pressure from the energy sector to speed up the auctions and increase the sea areas available for development to ensure that Norway can become a leading clean energy exporter. Two North Sea areas have been chosen--Utsira North and Southern North Sea II--for the development of up to 4.5 GW of bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind.
The plan was welcomed by the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, but it called for a faster rollout.
"It is good that the government is now clarifying Norway's offshore wind ambitions," said Hildegunn T. Blindheim, chief executive officer of Norwegian Oil and Gas. "The industry has been calling for this for a long time. It will lay the foundation for an industrial offshore wind investment, and provide predictability for offshore wind developers and suppliers who will invest in offshore wind on the Norwegian shelf. If the government's level of ambition is to be realized, they must start by opening new areas for offshore wind from this parliamentary term. Several countries see the same opportunities for developing an offshore wind industry and supplier industry, and several have already established supply chains and national initiatives with specific goals of developing their own industry and replacing fossil power production. The government must ensure progress in the licensing processes for Utsira North and Southern North Sea II, so that we both position ourselves in the race for the offshore wind markets."
Last month, Norway's leading oil and gas company Equinor (NYSE:EQNR)--which is two-thirds owned by the State--unveiled its first Energy Transition plan that will see US$23 billion of its gross capital expenditure invested in renewables over the next five years. It is a key partner in the Hywind Tampen project as well as a major investor in much larger offshore wind projects throughout Europe. For additional information, see April 21, 2022, article--Norway's Equinor Details First Energy Transition Plan.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the world's leading provider of market intelligence across the upstream, midstream and downstream energy markets and all other major industrial markets. IIR's Global Market Intelligence Platform (GMI) supports our end-users across their core businesses, and helps them connect trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated project opportunities. Follow IIR on: LinkedIn.
