Aker Offshore Wind, Ocean Winds, and Statkraft have signed a collaboration agreement to bid for, develop, construct, and operate offshore wind and associated infrastructure for the Utsira Nord license area in Norway.

The equal partnership will submit an application to the Norwegian authorities for the development of a commercial scale floating offshore wind farm in the Utsira Nord license area in the Norwegian North Sea.

Combining five decades of North Sea expertise in offshore development, execution, and marine operations from the Aker group of companies, the experience of Ocean Winds in developing, building, and operating bottom-fixed and floating offshore winds farms globally, and Statkraft´s deep expertise in renewable energy development, operations, and management, the consortium covers the full value chain from development to delivery of offshore green energy to market. Aker Offshore Wind and Ocean Winds have partnered on other projects in California, US, South Korea, and most recently in Scotland. Statkraft and Aker Offshore Wind have a well-established partnership for the Sørlige Nordsjø II area in Norway.

Kristian Røkke, Chairman of Aker Offshore Wind and CEO of Aker Horizons, said: “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. Aker Offshore Wind brings the capabilities and experience from five decades in the offshore industry to scale and industrialise floating wind in a sustainable way. At Utsira Nord, the ambition is to further develop and industrialise technology based on Principle Power’s market-leading floating substructure technology.”

Christian Rynning-Tønnesen, Chief Executive Officer of Statkraft, said: “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 [this] co-operation, 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, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Winds, said: “Our aim is to deploy all the know-how, experience and technology of Ocean Winds, especially the one acquired at Windfloat Atlantic, the world's first semi-submersible floating wind farm, in operation since last year, to contribute the best to the new Utsira Nord project. Our strong portfolio includes projects in operation such as Windfloat Atlantic (Portugal) and Seamade (Belgium), as well as Moray East (becoming Scotland’s largest offshore windfarm), which has recently produced its first power before the end of the construction phase. 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.”

Utsira Nord, an area off the coast of Haugesund in western Norway, is known for having consistently strong winds. Offshore wind is a rapidly maturing renewable energy technology that is poised to play an important role in future energy system and the partners are ready to pursue the possibilities in the Utsira Nord license area.