The Norwegian government today announced an investment of NOK 120 million in a new wind power research centre for Norway.
Wind power has the potential to supply the world's energy needs many times over. Yet it remains a controversial topic in Norway. Many Norwegians are opposed to wind turbines in their local area.
A new research centre based in Norway will look to improve existing wind power technology and develop new solutions to locate the turbines many miles offshore.
The research work will build on Norway's decades of offshore experience from the oil and gas industry.
Norway bets big on offshore wind
Tina Bru, Norway's minister of petroleum and energy, announced the new research centre NorthWind along with a government investment of NOK 120 million ($13.6 million).
Read more: The Future of Norwegian Wind Power
“Rapid growth in offshore wind power internationally offers great opportunities for Norwegian businesses. Research and development is crucial to secure lower costs, less environmental impact and improved operating models for such projects. I believe a longterm research centre with industry partners, the research community and the government will contribute to further development of offshore wind power in Norway”, said Bru.
Offshore wind challenges
The research into wind power will focus on the development of a new industry for Norway, including remote diagnostics and the electrical systems necessary to transfer the power generated from the ocean to land and into the electricity grid. But there will also be a focus on reducing the environmental impact of wind power in general.
“The NorthWind research centre will be at the cutting edge, working on innovations to make wind power cheaper, more efficient, and more sustainable,” according to a press release from NorthWind host institute, Sintef.
Read more: Flying Wind Turbine Tested in Norway
“The Centre's innovations will benefit Norwegian industry and the world at large,” said Sintef CEO Alexandra Bech Gjørv. “Offshore wind has the potential to meet the world's electricity needs many times over and innovations cutting its costs will help bring this renewable energy to the market even faster.”
About NorthWind
NorthWind will gather over 50 partners from research institutes and industry in Norway and around the world. Research institute SINTEF will lead the centre along with research partners NTNU, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and the University of Oslo.
International associated partners include DTU, TNO, Fraunhofer, University of Strathclyde, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and North China Electric Power University.
Industry partners include: 4Subsea, ABB, Aker Offshore Wind, Amon, Aibel, Baker Hughes, Cognite, DNV-GL, Dr Techn Olav Olsen, DOF Subsea Norway, EDR Medeso, Energi Norge, Energy Innovation, Equinor, Esvagt, Finnmark Kraft, Force Technology Norway, Fred Olsen Renewables, Fugro, GFMS, Hafslund Eco, Havyard Design & Solutions, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Impello, Kongsberg Maritime, Lundin Energy Norway, Lloyd’s Register, Nexans Norway, NKT, National Oilwell Varco Norway, Norwegian Energy Partners, Norconsult, NorSea Group, the Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster, RENERGY cluster, SAP Norway, Sogn og Fjordane Energi, Statkraft, Store Norske Spitsbergen, Kullkompani, Sval Energi, Trønder Energi Kraft, Vard Design and Windcluster Norway.
