Equinor Energy Group announced on Wednesday that it is working with RWE Renewables and Hydro REIN on a proposal to develop a large offshore wind project in the Norwegian waters of the North Sea, CNBC reports.
According to a statement, the companies will work together to present a proposal to the Norwegian authorities for the project that would be located in an area known as Sørlige Nordsjø II, informs News.ro.
Pal Eitrheim, Equinor’s executive vice president for new energy solutions, described the North Sea as “one of the best wind resources in the world”.
“A large wind farm at Sørlige Nordsjø II could play a key role in expanding the North Sea as an offshore energy hub and could create new industrial opportunities for Norway as an energy nation,” he added.
Equinor’s largest shareholder, formerly known as Statoil, is the Norwegian state.
A significant player in the oil and gas industry, the group also sought to diversify its portfolio to include renewable sources. Among other things, Equinor is a key supporter of the Dogger Bank wind farm, a major wind project off the north-east coast of England.
In June 2020, the Norwegian authorities opened two areas in the North Sea – Sørlige Nordsjø II and another called Utsira Nord – for the development of offshore renewable energy sources.
In practice, this allows stakeholders to apply for licenses for renewable energy projects.
The opening took effect on January 1, 2021.
Together, Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord “allow the development” of 4,500 megawatts of wind energy, according to the Norwegian government.
Equinor, RWE and Hydro REIN, a subsidiary of industrial company Hydro, did not disclose the size of their project in Wednesday’s announcement.
Although it has long been associated with oil and gas, a situation that looks set to continue in the foreseeable future, the North Sea is also becoming a hub for offshore wind energy. In addition to projects such as Dogger Bank Wind Farm, it already hosts large offshore wind facilities, such as the 174 turbine, the 1.2 gigawatt Hornsea One. C
The Danish energy company Orsted says the Hornsea One covers an area of about 407 square kilometers and is capable of supplying “well over a million homes in the UK”.
On Tuesday, port operator Forth Ports announced plans for a “renewable energy hub” at the port of Leith in Scotland. The proposed center, which would have supported £ 40 million ($ 56.55 million) in private investment, should cover 175 acres if it is to be built.
According to supporters of the project, it would provide “a marine berth on the river bank capable of hosting the largest offshore wind vessels in the world.”
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