We’re developing offshore wind in Norway

In the North Sea, there are persistent and strong winds, particularly from the north-west. These conditions are ideal for wind power as they provide plenty of power and predictable production. Parts of the Norwegian coast also have sea depths shallow enough to permit bottom-fixed turbines.

Over the past 50 years, the Norwegian supplier industry has built up unique expertise and is a world leader in technology related to maritime operations and the operation of offshore installations, including underwater operations. Much of the specialist knowledge from the oil and gas business is directly transferable to offshore wind power.

With Hywind Scotland and Hywind Tampen now in operation, Equinor alone has a share of 47% of the global power production from floating offshore wind.

Floating wind turbines are designed for deep water, and often have a draft of 80—110 metres. Norwegian industry has the advantage of having access to deep water quays and fjords, which are ideal conditions for installing wind turbines. Instead of carrying out extensive operations at sea, land-based installation of turbines in mainland Norway is faster, cheaper and safer.

The construction and operation of offshore wind farms requires advanced technology and infrastructure. This is constantly developing, but can lead to suppliers not recouping their development and testing costs. Standardisation and optimisation will become easier as the industry matures.

There are many players wanting to participate in the development of offshore wind projects, but at present, area allocation is limited. In other parts of the world, a shortage of licences has led to high costs and increased risk of financial losses. Profitability is a prerequisite for the industry to be able to grow.

Offshore wind projects are capital-intensive and have high investment costs in the initial phase. At the same time, the power from offshore wind must be competitive with other energy sources. The framework conditions for long-term earnings must be good for companies to be willing to invest in Norwegian offshore wind.

There is limited research so far on the environmental impact of offshore wind. It is therefore important to carry out thorough environmental assessments and develop measures that reduce the environmental impact. Equinor has carried out surveys and research in the Hywind Scotland project, and will continue to build knowledge in this area in future projects.

Now that Hywind Tampen is in production, Equinor has a 47% share of global power production from floating offshore wind.

Research into marine life started in the early 20th century in Norway. Research institutions such as the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, the Norwegian Institute of Natural Sciences (NINA), the University of Bergen and others have played an important role in collecting data and researching fish stocks and other marine life. These research environments are valuable for mapping the environmental impact of offshore wind.

Local support and commitment are crucial for the development of offshore wind farms. Some local communities may be concerned about changes to the landscape, noise, fisheries and tourism. Open dialogue and cooperation with affected parties is therefore important to ensure sustainable coexistence and long-term development of the industry.