This month, Norway launched a large-scale investment in offshore wind, recognising the importance of acting now in order to achieve its long-term mission. The ambition is that it will be allocated areas for 30,000 MV offshore wind production by 2040, which takes Norway from having two offshore wind turbines operated today to 1500 offshore wind turbines over the next 20 years.
Meanwhiles in Sweden, the government has launched a search for new sea areas that is suitable for offshore wind farm development. The country’s newly established plan is to generate up to 120 terawatt-hours of electricity annually from this renewable source. Like Norway, the Swedish government has decided on extensive marine plans. This will be overseen by the Swedish Energy Agency in cooperation with other agencies. So far, some areas included in the plan are located in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea, and the North Sea.
Increased offshore wind production will also help cover power needs in the petroleum business. The government will therefore consider how the petroleum industry can best contribute so that the investment in the offshore wind also facilitates the electrification of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. (Durakovik, A. 2022)
We must have a lot of electricity, cheap electricity, fast. This is how we secure the electricity supply, enable the conversion and secure good electricity prices in the long term.
- Minister of Energy and Digitization Khashayar Farmanbar
In order for any of this to happen, the right people need to be placed in the right jobs. Our consultants in Thor Engineering are continuously working to find new talent for exciting projects in offshore wind and renewable energy. If you are reading this and would like to join the industry in Scandinavia, please reach out to one of our consultants in Thor Engineering who can guide you in the right direction.
