North Sea stalwart Aker Solutions links with heavyweight group for Norwegian floating wind

Offshore engineering contractor Aker Solutions will work with a consortium of heavyweight partners as they advance plans for floating wind off Norway and enter the nation’s first tender, the 1.5GW Utsira Nord, next year.

Aker Solutions signed a memorandum of understanding with the group comprising Mainstream Renewable Power – itself also an Aker-owned business – plus global offshore wind player Ocean Winds and Norwegian utility Statkraft.

They will aim to “develop sustainable and cost-efficient technologies which include design, construction, fabrication and installation initiatives and other innovative solutions and new technology to lower costs”, said a statement. The link up also hopes to “further develop capabilities across the Norwegian supply chain and strengthen Norway’s competitiveness in floating wind”.

“Together with the consortium, we have the experience, innovation and cost-competitive models required to deliver the next full-scale floating offshore wind farm in Norway and take the industry to new, unexplored depths.”

As well as the deepwater sites off Utsira Nord, the Norwegian government will also tender off up to 1.5GW more in the southern North Sea where fixed-bottom offshore wind could be deployed.

Norway’s entry to offshore wind has attracted a roll-call of big hitters such as BP, Shell, Equinor, RWE, Orsted, Vattenfall, EDF and TotlEnergies.