Norwegian floating wind play gets updraft from Aker, Ocean Winds and Statkraft team-up
Trio to bid for acreage in Utsira Nord area, part of country's upcoming 4.5GW leasing round, with plan using WindFloat technology in full value-chain 'development to delivery' model
Aker Offshore Wind (AOW), Ocean Winds and Statkraft have joined forces to bid into Norway’s flagship offshore wind licensing round, the latest team to enter the race for development of commercial-scale projects off the Nordic country.
The three-way partnership, which aims to covers “the full value chain from development to delivery of offshore green energy to market”, aims to both operate a future floating wind plant in the northerly Utsira Nord area in the Norwegian North Sea as well the associated power infrastructure.
“Together with Ocean Winds and Statkraft, we have formed a partnership of experienced developers and operators to push the boundaries for offshore floating wind and develop new value chains for Norwegian industry,” said Kristian Røkke, chairman of AOW and CEO of parent company Aker Horizons.
“AOW brings the capabilities and experience from five decades in the offshore industry to scale and industrialise floating wind in a sustainable way,” he added, noting n Principle Power’s market-leading floating substructure technology.”
Statkraft CEP Christian Rynning-Tønnesen: “As Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, Statkraft’s competence in wind farm development and operations and, expertise in energy management provide a good foundation for success.
“By entering today’s cooperation, we are expanding our offshore wind exploration in Norway to floating technologies. As a result of promising developments, cost reductions, increasing electrification, rising demand for renewable energy and favourable regulatory frameworks, Statkraft views this market opportunity as a long-term value creative addition to our portfolio.”
Spyridon Martinis, CEO of Ocean Winds, a joint venture between Portugal’s EDPR and France’s EDF, said: “Our aim is to deploy all the know-how, experience and technology of Ocean Winds… to contribute the best to the new Utsira Nord project.
“We have a track record of using our strength as global leaders in the emerging offshore wind sector to create opportunities in the local communities in which we have a presence, and we hope to generate a positive impact on the Norwegian industry,” he said, reference the company’s role in developing the 25MW Windfloat Atlantic floating wind array off Portgual, and bottom-fixed Seamade, off Belgum, and Moray East, off Scotland.