Norway to launch 1.5GW offshore wind tender

The launch of offshore wind turbines in the southern North Sea is expected to supply Norway’s mainland with 1.5 gigawatt of electricity

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a news conference, that the first turbines could be completed in the second half of this decade and government subsidies may be needed to get the project going.

The first 1.5 GW phase could provide 7 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, equating to the demand of 460,000 households, the government said.

The Norwegian government is looking at transitioning towards a renewable energy future with offshore wind offering a potential alternative from Norway’s dominant oil and gas sector.

According to Stoere, the government is looking into a second development phase in the North Sea, which will have the same capacity and may supply power to the European continent.

Previously, Norway selected a development in the North Sea for a floating offshore wind project, which has garnered massive interest from domestic and international investors.