By announcing the first competitions for offshore wind areas, the Norwegian government takes a big step towards its ambition of allocating areas for 30,000 MW offshore wind by 2040.

– Leading Norway through the green shift is one of our major tasks as a government. In order to further develop Norway, the answer to almost all questions is that we need more energy production. And that is why today marks a milestone, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

– The government’s ambition is to allocate areas for 30,000 MW offshore wind by 2040, which is almost on par with Norway’s total power production last year. Today is the starting signal, and it is important to keep up the pace, says Støre.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy is announcing a competition for project areas for renewable energy production at sea in two areas on the Norwegian continental shelf: Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord.

– We are looking forward to receiving many good applications from relevant developers, so that we can allocate the project areas later this year, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland.

Minister of Petroleum and Energy says that the input from the industry has been very important for the competitions announced today.

– Collaboration is a key to success, and I am very satisfied with all the input we received in the public consultation. It has improved the announcement. Together, we make it possible to develop new industry, increase renewable power production and facilitate innovation and technology development, says Aasland.

The Energy Commission’s report, which was presented earlier this year, points out that we need to build more renewable power faster than before, by doing several things at the same time. Therefore, the work to assess new areas for offshore wind has already started. The Government plans a new announcement of offshore wind areas in 2025.

– A prerequisite for us has been to have a dialogue with various interest groups to ensure good coexistence. Norway has good traditions for developing the continental shelf step by step, and we will follow this method also for our offshore wind development, says Aasland.

– Norway has great opportunities in offshore wind. Our areas at sea, are five times larger than areas on land. And there is a lot of wind along our coast. In addition, we have skilled professionals and companies that will contribute to develop this technology, says Støre.

Source: Norwegian Government