The Norwegian government plans to start seabed surveys this summer at the Sorlige Nordsjo 2 and Utsira Nord offshore wind zones and has allocated Nkr65m (€6m) for the work.
The surveys will provide information on water depths and seabed conditions in order to help choose the locations for turbines in the two call areas.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has commissioned the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate to provide the surveys, subject to permission from the Storting – Norway’s parliament.
Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland (pictured) said: “I have asked the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate to initiate ground investigations in the two areas that are open to make good use of the time while we prepare the auction model and qualitative criteria for allocating land.
“The investigations can start already this summer.”
The government said early mapping of the seabed is important for realising offshore wind projects in Norway before 2030.
Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre said: “Offshore wind is a central part of the green industrial promise.
“We had our ambitions with us in government, and this week we presented a historic ambition of 30GW by 2040 and now we are following up with fresh funds to get faster progress in the development.
“With that comes value creation, new jobs and a real green shift.”
The government also proposes to increase finance to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy by Nkr5m for external assistance and preparations for offshore wind power.
It added that another aim is to promote good coexistence between the maritime industries.
The government therefore proposes to strengthen the grant to the Institute of Marine Research by Nkr10m to examine how existing and new industries affect each other and ecosystems.
The goal is to find solutions that are based on a good knowledge base, and that continue to create growth opportunities in the future, it said.