Norway has named four southern sea areas as relatively best suited for offshore wind, following a strategic impact assessment led by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE).
The Vestavind C site off Midthordaland, along with Sørvest B, Sørvest C and Sørvest D in the southern North Sea, were highlighted for their favourable wind conditions, grid access and lower overall environmental and industrial impact.
“These four areas are relatively better off than the others,” said NVE director Kjetil Lund.
“Offshore wind in Norway is not profitable without significant financial support,” he added.
The strategic review assessed 20 areas in total, following earlier site identification work conducted by a directorate group in 2023.
NVE carried out the impact assessment with input from a reference group comprising the Norwegian Environment Agency, the Directorate of Fisheries, the Continental Shelf Directorate, the Coastal Administration and the Defence Construction Agency.
The study evaluated technical and economic suitability, wind resources, energy costs, grid connection and effects on biodiversity, fisheries, defence and other marine activities.
Lund said: “We are not currently making recommendations on whether offshore wind should be developed in these areas or not. Decisions… are up to the government.”
Northern areas such as Nordavind C, Nordavind D and Nordvest B were found to be the least suitable, due to long distances to shore, weak wind resources and a reliance on less mature direct current transmission technology.
NVE noted that its assessments assume only one area is developed at a time and advised that cumulative impacts must be re-evaluated if multiple adjacent sites are opened simultaneously.
The agency also warned that further analysis is needed, especially on biodiversity, given the early stage of Norway’s offshore wind sector.