Norway considers opening further areas to offshore wind developers
Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has identified 20 areas on the Norwegian continental shelf that could be technically suited to offshore wind developments.
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is leading the process.
“We have 50 years of experience with coexistence at sea, which has been useful in the effort to identify these areas,” said Kjersti Dahle, Director of Technology, Analyses and Coexistence at the NPD.
“In addition to this, we know the shelf and understand seabed conditions.”
The NPD has contributed data and knowledge of petroleum resources, CO2 storage complexes and the subsurface.
“For us, it's crucial that no potential petroleum and CO2 assets are lost as a result of developing offshore wind. Moving forward, it will be important to conduct a good, detailed mapping of the resource potential in the proposed areas, with the best possible data available,” Dahle added.
“Some of the areas are challenging as regards petroleum; others seem to be of little consequence.”
Others involved in the proposal process are the Directorate of Fisheries, the Norwegian Environment Agency, the Norwegian Coastal Administration and the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency.
The Petroleum Safety Authority has acted as an observer.
04.26.2023
