Norway seeks leadership in floating offshore wind technology

METCentre, the world-leading Norwegian test center, has signed contracts with three companies to test innovative floating offshore wind technologies to reduce costs and promote the development of the emerging renewable energy sector.

Located off the west coast of Norway, METCentre recently expanded its test area to accommodate up to seven turbines with a total power generation capacity of 85 MW. The new project’s buoys will be equipped with turbines with a capacity of more than 15 MW, a scale unmatched anywhere else in the world.

“This is very good news for innovation in floating offshore wind. The technology planned by METCentre will be essential when we start up Utsira Nord,” said Arvid Nesse, director of METCentre and Norwegian offshore wind.

The test site’s proximity to Utsira Nord, the site of Norway’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm, adds to its strategic importance. “We are the only place in the world with the right to test projects of this capacity,” said Nesse. “If we want to roll out floating offshore wind in Norway without further delay, we have to start with METCentre.”

While the exact companies involved remain confidential due to ongoing funding competition, the projects are vying for support from ENOVA, a state-owned company that recently announced a new floating offshore wind project.

NESS stressed that these initiatives are vital in maintaining Norway’s global leadership in floating offshore wind technology. He called on the government to invest in pilots and pilot projects, saying: “The most important thing the Norwegian government can do now is to invest in pilots and pilot projects to ensure that future commercial projects are profitable and require less risk mitigation”.

As the floating offshore wind industry develops, the METCentre project will play a key role in driving innovation, reducing costs, and shaping the future of renewable energy in Norway and beyond.