Five companies have applied to Enova for NOK 9bn to establish floating offshore demonstration projects over the next five years.
The Norwegian state-owned enterprise can award up to NOK 2bn per project, and final decisions are expected in the spring of this year.
Applications will be assessed based on how the technology can contribute to the transition to a low-emission society.
Enova will consider the capacity of energy produced per support kroner, the potential for diffusion of the technology, how innovative the projects are, the climate footprint and the impact on biodiversity, Enova said in a release.
Marine Energy Test Centre Director Cecilia Girard-Vika said: “We are very pleased with the strong interest in the programme.
“For many years, we have worked systematically to prepare the METCentre offshore wind site outside Karmøy to host the next generation of floating wind technologies, and we are now eagerly awaiting the outcome of the competition.”