Norway is planning to launch its first tender for 1.5 GW offshore wind project in the southern North Sea later in 2022. The Norwegian prime minister stated that the first project might be operational by the end of this decade. He also highlighted that the viability of offshore wind projects might be contingent on government assistance in the form of state subsidies. The turbines’ second phase of development will take place in the same area of the southern North Sea. Even this phase, according to the prime minister, will have a capacity of 1.5 GW, but it will also be able to deliver power to the rest of Europe.
The government has also said that the initial 1.5 GW phase may generate 7 TWh of electricity, which would be enough to power up to 460,000 households. However, supplying energy to the rest of Europe is a contentious issue in Norway since it might have an influence on domestic power prices. Norwegian consumers, like those in the rest of Europe, have had to contend with rising bills in recent months.
The administration claims to be dedicated to locating additional offshore acreage for wind turbine construction in other suitable seas. The project was started by the previous government of the country, which chose two North Sea sites for the development of up to 4.5 GW of bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind farms. Since its introduction, this action has aroused the interest of both domestic and foreign investors.
