Norseman Wind to Apply for Building 1.4 GW Subsidy-Free OWF in Norway

Norseman Wind has announced its decision to apply for a licence to build a 1.4 GW wind farm off Norway. In a press release issued on 25 May, the company said the project would be built and operated without the need for government subsidies.

Furthermore, German offshore wind developer EnBW has joined the consortium behind the project, according to the latest information on the project.

The Norseman Wind consortium, now comprising EnBW, ASKO Fornybar / NorgesGruppen and Norseman Wind, is proposing to build the 1.4 GW offshore wind farm in the Sørlige Nordsjø II area, one of two zones Norway opened for offshore wind last summer and launched a pre-application period for this January.

The total investment in the large-scale offshore wind farm has been estimated to be NOK 30–35 billion (around EUR 2.9–3.4 billion) and, according to the developers, it will be built and operated without subsidies.

“Our business model means that we do not need government subsidies. Thus, the state’s green money can rather be spent on floating offshore wind at Utsira Nord, as well as on hydrogen and carbon capture”, said Harald Dirdal, partner in Norseman Wind.

The consortium also said it aimed at having at least 50 per cent of the project delivered by Norwegian supply chain companies. Aker Solutions, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, and National Oilwell Varco have been selected as the main suppliers for the Norseman Wind project, with Aker chosen as the preferred supplier for the project’s foundations.