Increased dialogue between offshore wind players and the Norwegian authorities will be crucial to accelerating the development of the sector in Norway, according to the Norwegian Wind Energy Association (NORWEA).
Dialogue should map out what is needed on a project basis, as well as relevant business models and the suitable commercial framework conditions, NORWEA said in a position paper on further development for offshore wind in the country.
The Norwegian authorities should also learn from the experiences of other countries that have developed offshore wind markets in the North Sea, the paper said.
In particular, they should look at the effect the licensing procedure has had on company involvement and ensuring local involvement and value creation, it added.
The authorities should also ensure that there is a diversity of actors throughout the value chain and plan for a developer-driven development of projects.
R&D activities must be actively promoted together with volume development.
NORWEA noted that both power production and technology exports represent potentially large revenues for Norway.
Therefore, it is “important that the authorities take an active role in ensuring Norwegian participation in forums and multilateral cooperation involving power infrastructure and maritime renewable power”.
The association said this “entails, among other things, an investment in North Sea co-operation, and active work to present the opportunities provided by the opening of areas in the southern part of the North Sea” to offshore wind.