The Norwegian government laid out its plans for offshore wind development today (link in Norwegian), at an outdoors press conference in Oslo.
Development will go ahead in on of the two areas designated for development by the previous government: Sørlige Nordsjø II. The government specifies that the offshore wind farms in question will be connected to shore only on the Norwegian side, and not with export cables going abroad.
According to Prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, this development will secure access to clean and inexpensive power for Norway.
Finance minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum says he sees offshore wind development as an investment that will secure lower electricity prices for Norwegians.
The first phase of Sørlige Nordsjø II will have a total installed capacity of 1.5 GW. This area will be developed with bottom-fixed wind turbines. Concessions will be put to auction in the fall of 2022. A second phase of 1.5 GW would be developed at a later stage.
Whether this second phase would also be connected only to Norway, or to the international market, will be determined at a later point. The government specifies in its announcement that an impact assessment study will be carried out by NVE and Statnett to determine the consequences of each connection alternative on the country’s power system.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced at the same time that it is submitting for consultation a proposal for the division of the concessions already announced for offshore wind development, Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II. The Ministry adds that this partition of the concession areas takes into account environmental consequences and the needs of other business interests. The Ministry wishes to get input from both the offshore wind industry, other users of the areas and other stakeholders.
